When is it time for new shocks?

[pixelzombie]

My 2016 has about 56,000 miles on it and lately the front suspension feels so clunky. Hitting small bumps makes a thud noise as if it can't react to the road quickly enough. I don't recall having this issues last year. I've read the Bilstein B6 is a nice option which goes for a decent price. They look fairly straightforward to change, but I don't have a spring compressor and I don't want to risk injury with this install. What is the usual price to have them installed at a place like Tire Rack?

 

[TyphoonFiST]

Check the sway bar links & sway bar bushings those usually cause ALOT of clunking when hitting bumps. If you wanna be proactive NOW is the time to replace to maintain that OEM feel. If you wanna be frugal wait till 75k* The Best way to tell the Struts and shocks are worn ...you will need to Jounce the Bumper front and rear. Pushing down with either your hands or Knee. the suspension should return and NOT bounce more than twice. This Job is CAKE walk..plenty of SCREWtube videos on DIY* But if you want it done with Alignment $750+ with labor and parts. If you know someone that could help you you can save on labor and just get an alignment when your done.

 

[pixelzombie]

Check the sway bar links & sway bar bushings those usually cause ALOT of clunking when hitting bumps. If you wanna be proactive NOW is the time to replace to maintain that OEM feel. If you wanna be frugal wait till 75k* The Best way to tell the Struts and shocks are worn ...you will need to Jounce the Bumper front and rear. Pushing down with either your hands or Knee. the suspension should return and NOT bounce more than twice. This Job is CAKE walk..plenty of SCREWtube videos on DIY* But if you want it done with Alignment $750+ with labor and parts. If you know someone that could help you you can save on labor and just get an alignment when your done.

Thanks for the info. Hopefully youtube has a few videos on checking the sway bar links.

 

[TyphoonFiST]

Thanks for the info. Hopefully youtube has a few videos on checking the sway bar links.

You can check them with a visual inspection* The ball and joint that attaches to the sway bar and strut will become dislodged or develop play. The sway bar can be checked with a visual inspection and pry bar. The bar itself will move a little/minutely but if the Sway bushings are worn it will move a lot and cause clunking.

 

[kevinatfms]

I replace the OE by 60,000 miles. The replacement style improved performance shocks usually last a bit longer(Bilstein B6/B8 and Koni Sports). Replacement OE shocks will have the same 60,000 mile lifespan.


The front upper strut mounts will wear faster than the shocks will.

 

[Intuit]

Hard slam, bottoming out, insanely stiff = springs
Bouncy ride, excessive suspension travel, sloppy dampening = struts

That said, there were certain roadways (rarely traveled for me anymore) that may resonate with the suspension at a certain speed-range. The colder it is, the more suspension travel there may be. These did this new off the car lot. The difference between this "resonance" vs failing is, dampening is definitely occurring. The suspension travel is controlled, consistent. Failing you may get different behavior from different corners.

Personally don't believe there's a particular mileage for which struts/springs last or need to be replaced; that hasn't been my experience with any vehicle thus far.

 

[zomalley1]

My mechanic fixed my front brakes and asked him to look at the shocks too. Both were suggested by the Ford dealer but my mechanic did the front brakes for $140 less😜. He told me to wait on the shocks for a while. My car has 43K miles on it—but he said 16’ Ford Fiests shocks have been a problem—he had to replace one car at 20K b/c of fluid issues. No recalls on it.

 

[FlordPerformance]

Typically shocks/struts should be replaced 50K miles. However depending on the road conditions like those in Maryland.. we've had to replace shocks/struts every 2 years. This makes the third set of struts and second set of shocks on the van. Plus really depends on the shock brand as coil overs tend to last longer than shocks etc. Buying OE shocks etc tend or can wear out sooner than one expects. But lets not forget that the springs have alot to say on a shock life just like the baring and bushings.. all this starts to fail, the shocks would take the brunt of punishment.

 

[Intuit]

Had 327k on prior car and the struts were fine. Had to unload the car due to structural rust at the mount points for suspension parts; such as the rear trailing arm. Guesstimating 50k earlier, rear springs broke near the bottom due to rust but that wasn't what warranted replacement since they still seated fine and didn't significantly affect ride-height. The strut-mount up top rusted out. 80k on a prior sport bike and never needed any suspension work (totaled in a high speed rear-ender). None of my family's vehicles have ever needed struts or springs though, my Mom was duped into replacing all four corners when all it needed was an alignment following some tie-rod work. Because it can ride rough, people often think they need suspension parts when all they need is an alignment.