Shock Absorbers vs. Strut Assemblies: Everything You Need to Know
Shocks and struts. They're critical parts of the suspension system in your INFINITI. Why are they so all-important? They have a job paramount to keeping you and yours safe during drives: they help the car or SUV you love remain stable.
And they do this by controlling the activity of coil springs on the road. This, in turn, doesn't just help maintain wheel alignment. It also helps minimize body roll -- that unnerving tipping feeling you get when, say, cornering. This, of course, means your tires can stay on the road better, handling and braking can remain as consistent as you're used to, and ride quality can continue to be as enjoyable as you've come to expect from your favorite luxury automaker.
Of course, both may work together, but that doesn't mean they're the same thing. In fact, they aren't even the same part, technically. If you're confused, don't worry; we're here to clear the air about how they differ, especially in terms of what to look for if one's faulty or another's going bad.
Get to know all about it all, right here.
Shocks vs. Struts: the Differences
Shocks (shock absorbers), you'll find mounted vertically behind your tires, usually. Struts (strut assemblies), on the other hand, are often mounted horizontally, and they look like extensions of your wheels. It's shock hydraulics that keep that spring movement to a minimum; struts, however, usually carry both a spring and a shock. Plus, they're weight-bearing, so they're somewhat stronger than a shock alone.
From there, the contrast between them can be a matter of what variant, if any, the suspension in your INFINITI has; some cars and SUVs may have shocks on one axle and struts on the other, but not all have struts, necessarily.
Either way, you inspect both every 50,000 miles or so (but be sure you double-check your owner's manual for the last word on that -- it'll have a maintenance schedule you can refer to). That's because, occasionally, one, the other, or both can wear out, and in such cases, replacement, versus repair, is recommended; it pays to know which you have to swap out, to keep expenses in the service bay down.
How Can I Tell if it's My INFINITI Shocks That are Failing, or My Struts?
A handful of key symptoms will let you know. Generally, they include:
- A ride quality that's become rougher than usual
- Your vehicle leaning forward excessively at stops
- Unusual bouncing while driving
- Pulling to the side during turns
- Steering response getting poorer at higher speeds
- Losing control of your vehicle
- Cupping, i.e., uneven tire treads or flat areas on the tires (not otherwise caused by misaligned wheels)
- An oily or greasy film on either or both
These can suggest, though, that either a shock or a strut's the problem. You can distinguish one from the other pretty easily, though; if your ride sways when cornering, the tire treads have worn unevenly, your vehicle's rear end squats when you speed up, the steering wheel or the car itself vibrates, or the steering wheel gets tough to turn, then most likely, you've got a failed shock. If, however, the car bounces, if it leans forward when braking, if you hear noises coming from the undercarriage when you go over bumps or potholes, or the wheels begin to wobble and don't stay aligned, then a faulty strut is the likely culprit.
Your best bet for figuring out what's what? Run a suspension inspection, and replace one, the other, or both, as needed. If it turns out that you're not sure what the issue is, though, you can always have your vehicle looked at by a certified mechanic; take it to an INFINITI dealer for help.
We stock plenty of replacements; they're OEM-quality, of the kind you've come to expect from INFINITI. They're warranty-backed, too, so you can order here with confidence: you'll be making the right investment. Get peace of mind, and your suspension repaired -- buy now; we'll ship anywhere in the US, and you'll back on the road in no time. Contact us with any questions.