Volkswagen Shock & Strut Replacement in Avondale, AZ

Shocks and Struts: The Keys to Maintaining Your Vehicle's Ride Quality and Handling

Noticing excess body roll or lack of stability at speed? Experiencing nose dive under hard braking? It may be time to replace the shocks or struts on your vehicle. These vital components are integral to the control, stability, safety, comfort, and overall enjoyment of your vehicle.

What Are Shocks and Struts?

Shocks and struts are both part of a vehicle's suspension system. Despite some similarities, they do have some notable differences in design and functionality.

Shocks, or shock absorbers, are usually found situated at the rear axle of a vehicle. They do not play a structural or weight-bearing role. Instead, they serve to slow the spring or swaying movement of the vehicle. They use hydraulic pressure to provide resistance in these instances. This can dramatically improve stability and smoothness.

Struts, on the other hand, do play a vital structural role in a car's suspension system. Typically located at the front axle, struts perform a similar damping function as shocks. The difference is that struts also support the front springs and tire alignment.

Wear, Tear, and Installation

Unfortunately, shocks and struts don't last forever. Much like any other part in your car, regular wear and tear can cause these components to lose their effectiveness. When this happens, you may experience vagueness in handling, a bouncy ride quality, diminished stability in windy conditions, and other negative effects. The good news is that shocks and struts are designed to work effectively for tens of thousands of miles, so you won't have to worry about installing new parts frequently.

When the time eventually comes to install new shocks or struts, the team at Larry H. Miller Volkswagen Avondale will be ready to help. Installing shocks is a relatively straightforward process that takes a professional mechanic little time to complete. Strut replacement services are a bit more complex because they involve spring compression and other extra steps. Nonetheless, the top-notch technicians at our service center near Avondale, AZ can handle the challenge with ease.