7 Symptoms of bad struts

7 Most Common Symptoms of Bad Struts

Struts wear and fail in fairly predictable ways. Strut life really depends on how you drive and the road conditions in your area. But generally speaking, struts last between 80,000 and 120,000 miles. When they’re worn, you can see and feel the symptoms of bad struts. If you keep driving on bad struts, you’ll not only increase your stopping distance, but you’ll also ruin your tires and even cause accelerated suspension wear.

Learn these 7 most common symptoms of bad struts

1) The front end dives when you brake

You car nose dives excessively when you brake and you can actually see and feel it. That’s one of the earliest symptoms of bad struts.

2) It’s taking longer to stop

Good struts not only provide comfort but they playing an important role in helping you stop by keeping your tires in contact with the road, even after hitting bumps. Worn out struts can’t do that. Instead, they keep bouncing after hitting bumps. The more time your tire spends in mid-bounce, the less stopping power you have. KYB has tested worn struts and found that they can increase stopping distance by up to 12-ft from a 60-mph stop.

3) It’s a bumpy ride

Loss of comfort is another one of the symptoms of bad struts. You become aware that you’re feeling every bump in the road, and you notice it even on “smooth” streets.

4) It’s hard to stay in your own lane

You notice you have to constantly correct your steering, especially in curves and on bumpy roads. That can be caused by worn steering components, but it’s also one of the symptoms of bad struts. Like a broken record; good struts keep your tires in contact with the road and that helps you car go where you steer it. When tires are in the air, your steering is less effective.

5) Tire cupping

Worn struts cause tire cupping and accelerated tire wear. Every time your tire bounces off the pavement and then hits the pavement, you wear off extra rubber. These “divots” cause the tire to be out of balance. Once that starts, you’ll get accelerated tire wear.

6 Car “squats” on acceleration or bottoms out on relatively small potholes

Worn struts cause the rear of your car to “squat” during acceleration.

Worn struts cause accelerated suspension component wear. Worn struts cause your tires to bounce and that extra bouncing causes additional wear to ball joints, control arm bushings, tie rod ends and stabilizer bar end links.

7) Bad struts leak

Struts are filled with hydraulic fluid. When the piston seals wear out, they can’t keep the fluid inside. But there’s a big difference between a weep and a leak. A weep is normal and occurs any time a piston moves in an out of a seal. Worn struts leak hydraulic fluid. Seeping or slight weeping is normal. But if you notice a wet leak, your struts should be replaced.

Strut replacement cost

©, 2022 Rick Muscoplat