Signs your shocks or struts are worn
A shock or strut controls the spring. When the damper fades, the spring still holds the vehicle up, but the body keeps moving after a bump. The signs below are reasons to inspect the suspension. Tires, ball joints, bushings, and springs can cause some of the same symptoms, so the damper is not always the part that failed.
What drivers notice
- The nose dives when you brake, or the rear squats when you pull away.
- The body rolls more in a turn than it used to.
- After a dip or speed bump, the vehicle keeps bouncing instead of settling.
- A clunk over bumps. A mount, a bushing, or a loose fastener can make the same noise.
- Fluid on the outside of the shock or strut tube. Dust on the body is normal. A wet tube usually means the seal is leaking.
- Cupped or scalloped tire tread. A worn damper lets the tire hop. Alignment and inflation cause uneven wear too, so check those before blaming the damper alone.
What to replace
Use the vehicle page and match the position printed on the part. Front and rear are different parts. Some struts are sold as front left and front right, and those are not interchangeable. When the catalog says two per vehicle for an axle, replace both sides. A new damper on one side and a worn one on the other makes the axle uneven.
The part type tells you whether you are buying a shock, a strut, or a strut assembly. A KYB part that includes the coil spring and the mount is a strut assembly, listed as Strut-Plus when that is the series. There is no single mileage that fits every vehicle. Inspect the dampers when the symptoms show up, then match a part that the catalog lists for that year, make, model, and position.