Suspension Repair, Shock & Strut Replacement Houston TX

If you need a suspension mechanic in the greater Houston metropolitan area or suburbs, we can help! We have local suspension repair shops in Katy, Kingwood, West Houston on Hwy 6 N, Northwest Houston on Jones Rd, and Montgomery, Texas that can repair or replace your shocks and struts and get your car riding smoothly again! Call us today or request a quote online for strut and shock replacement!

Your car’s suspension system provides a buffer from the potholes, bumps, and cracks we drive over in Houston every day. This cushion helps protect the delicate instruments and machinery that keep your car moving forward. A ride without adequate suspension isn’t just bumpy and uncomfortable, it can be unsafe and cause further damage to your car. Without a sound, stable vehicle suspension, driving your automobile becomes increasingly risky. That’s why regular maintenance, routine inspections, and service from an experienced car suspension repair facility are vital.

Suspension, Shock, & Strut Services

Our suspension repair and maintenance services include but are not limited to:

• Repair Suspension
• Suspension Replacement
• Shock Replacement
• Shock Repair
• Strut Replacement
• Strut Repair
• Strut Replacement

How Your Suspension System Works

The suspension system is comprised of parts that include the shock absorbers and struts. These and other components are designed to stabilize the vehicle while in motion. The system provides enhanced control when you turn, brake, or experience rough driving conditions. Automobiles generally use either struts or shock absorbers, though many late-model vehicles use a combination of both to achieve a smooth, safe driving experience.

How Shocks Work

Shocks generally act as an independent auto part with a spring and dampening system. They control the energy caused by impact and the spring’s recoil. Simply put, shock absorbers handle the unwelcome energy associated with bumps, stops, and turns. They act as a bumper between a vehicle’s frame and axle. Tired of that bumpy ride? It might be time for shock replacement service.

Struts Explained

Struts provide a similar function but in a different way. They help dampen energy from impacts, stops and turns and also aid in the vehicle’s structural support. In this respect, struts deliver slightly more. Both help smooth away any bouncing or swaying a driver might feel. If they start to wear out, you should seriously consider strut replacement.

How much does it cost to replace shocks on a vehicle?

The average cost of to replace shocks is about $180 per shock. Typically shock absorbers (aka shocks) are replaced in sets of two so that both front shocks or back shocks are level. One set of two shocks cost an average of $360, and replacing all four shocks on your car, truck, SUV, or van, costs an average of $720. However, it’s important to remember that replacing shocks can cost much more in some cases if the car is imported or has a proprietary suspension system with pricier parts and labor.

How Often do I need to replace my shock absorbers or struts?

There are a lot of variables that go into determining when to replace your struts or shocks. Climate, road conditions, vehicle age, and the car’s primary use all impact a cars suspension. The struts on a car that drives on well paved, even roads will last a lot longer that a truck that carries heavy loads down roads with a lot of potholes or gravel.

While most manufacturers of shocks and strut will recommend replacement somewhere near the 50,000 mile mark, that recommendation does not take these variable into account. Instead, it makes more sense to have your suspension inspected by a qualified suspension mechanic around 40,000 miles and at then every year thereafter.

5 Signs That It’s Time to Replace Your Shocks

Operating a vehicle with worn out shocks and struts can place you and your family in a hazardous situation. Ranked among top safety features of modern automobiles, a vehicle’s suspension works tirelessly to manage the road. If you stop and think about it, a vehicle’s suspension handles more of the safety duties than any other system because it is always active.

Unlike squeaky brakes or bald tires, the symptoms of a failing suspension system may seem pretty subtle. But when shocks and struts are damaged or worn out, it’s situation critical. These are some of the telltale signs that you need your suspension system serviced.

1. Reduced Stopping Ability: Although brakes are responsible for applying force to the wheels, the full weight of the vehicle is transferred to the suspension system to manage. You may experience a type of “nose dive” effect when they are defective. The front of the automobile dips when coming to a stop even at slow speeds. Considering the average car weighs nearly 1.5 tons, that’s a heavy load to bear. Recent studies indicate that vehicles with declining shocks and struts require 11.7 percent longer to come to a complete stop. That distance can mean the difference between avoiding a high-speed collision and serious injury.
2. Diminished Acceleration Control: Vehicles generate tremendous torque when accelerating. The suspension system is tasked with redistributing that spike in force from the rear to front wheels. When the suspension system becomes impaired, the rear wheels bear the bulk of the torque. You may feel like the front of the automobile is riding higher than the rear. This condition reduces a driver’s ability to steer efficiently.
3. Diminished Handling: The suspension system helps to negotiate bumps, potholes, and uneven roads. The system disburses impacts and energy to create the sense of a smooth driving experience. But when the shocks and struts are deficient, handling a vehicle becomes more difficult. This will often translate to difficulty turning and increased vibration in the steering column.
4. Prone to Rollovers: When vehicles make sharp turns at high rates of speed, a substantial amount of energy must be adequately distributed. A sound suspension system will evenly disburse the pull on the vehicle and level it off. Sub-par suspensions won’t carry out this task effectively. Drivers and passengers may feel as if one side of the vehicle is riding higher than the other when turning. This condition could result in a vehicle flipping over.
5. Drifting or Pulling: Vehicles with poorly functioning suspension systems tend to drift or pull to one side when making a turn. This is due to an inability to manage centrifugal force. Drifting or pulling is an early warning sign that your vehicle requires prompt service.

There are a number of other early warning signs that a vehicle requires immediate service and repair. These include things such as tires wearing unevenly, oily shocks or stains under the vehicle, a bouncing sensation while driving or a general rough ride. If you have noticed any of the above conditions, your automobile should be inspected and serviced by a trained technician immediately.

Importance of Routine Suspension Repair and Service

It’s important for drivers to understand that shocks and struts are not just stationary parts. In fact, they are a mechanism that includes a piston and hydraulic fluid designed to absorb force. They are fully functioning components of any vehicle and as such require ongoing oversight, service, and repair.

Service, repair and suspension inspections should be part of your vehicle’s overall health and maintenance program. Regularly scheduled oil changes and maintenance service calls allow our trained professionals to evaluate your suspension system for signs of a problem.

Schedule Suspension Repair

Suspension Service, Strut, or Shock Replacement Houston, Katy & Kingwood

Our goal is to ensure your vehicle operates safely to avoid unnecessary breakdowns and hazardous situations. If you are experiencing any of the signs associated with a worn or damaged suspension system, call or request an appointment to see one of our Houston-area automotive suspension mechanics today!

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