Automotive Q & A

Answer: Leaking shocks are an obvious sign of worn shock absorbers. However, detecting a worn shock absorber may not be this easy. If your vehicle is bouncing or swaying excessively, you should have your vehicle’s suspension inspected by a professional. The best way to check if your vehicle is bouncing excessively is to drive over familiar roads and see if there is more bouncing than usual. You can also perform the bounce test. What you do is bounce each corner of your vehicle a few times, and after you let go, the vehicle should bounce only once and then settle. If your vehicle settles after one bounce your shocks are good. If the vehicle continues to bounce, your shock absorbers may be worn and should be checked. Experts recommend that you should have your shock absorbers checked once a year or every 12,000 miles.