Hitting a pothole shouldn’t feel like a theme-park drop. Shocks and struts keep your ride smooth by dampening spring oscillations .
Signs you need new dampers:
- Bouncy ride: You rebound off every bump.
- Nose dive/brake squat: Car tilts forward or back under braking or acceleration .
- Uneven tire wear .
Expect 50k–100k miles of trouble-free service, depending on roads and load . Upgrading to performance dampers (Bilstein, KYB) can sharpen handling if you’re more “track day” than “grocery run.”
DIY is possible but requires spring compressors and a torque wrench—get a pro if you value all your limbs intact.
