If your vehicle is bouncing up and down excessively, potholes are causing the car to slam into the bump stops, or your mechanic has recently suggested that replacement is due, then it may be time to replace the shocks or struts of the vehicle.
The average replacement cost for an automobile’s shocks or struts will be discussed in the story. As much as we don’t want to bore our readers, the average cost varies from $500 to #2,500, which is in fact pretty shocking.
The difference in cost comes from the multiple designs available and luxury vehicles costing more to repair. If the automobile is a standard economy vehicle, replacing shocks and struts should not exceed the $1000 mark.
Differences Between Shocks and Struts
Struts and shocks are part of the suspension system of the vehicle, yet serve different purposes to enable smooth and safe operations of the vehicle.
In as much as both aid in enhancing the comfort of traveling, struts bear the load of a vehicle while shocks only serve to dampen motion.
These parts are important for a vehicle’s stabilization and ride quality, and they support the vehicle in different ways.
When a strut or shock absorber fails, it tends to allow too much movement, which can cause the vehicle to experience bouncing, a rough ride, vibrations, and poor tire wear if these components do not control suspension movement properly.
What Are Shocks?
Shocks make use of hydraulic oil or air within a sealed cylinder. One end of the cylinder connects to the suspension while the other end connects to the chassis. The cylinder opens up with the movement of the vehicle to absorb the impact.
Shock absorbers are required as they make the disturbances in motion less aggressive and reduce noise to make the ride more comfortable.
You can drive around without shock absorbers, but it is not advisable. They only make it possible by serving as motion dampers, but do not assist the suspension geometry and structure.
What Are Struts?
A strut is a critical part of a vehicle’s suspension system. Struts help support the entire suspension and alignment using coils integrated with mounts bearing the suspension arms which permit turning and steering the vehicle.
Struts are like shock absorbers because each one has a piston, a piston rod, and outer cylindrical casing and they differ in that they have structural features so that they can function as a unit.
Unfortunately, while driving, you cannot avoid strut assemblies as it is a vital element for the automobile’s suspension system.
Strut Replacement Cost
When replacing struts, irrespective of your thoughts regarding the condition of the other strut, it’s wiser to replace them both. This is done to avoid handling and suspension problems, which can create unsafe driving conditions or result in costly damage to the vehicle.
Average Cost Breakdown:
- Total cost for a pair of struts: $450 to $1,500
- Parts: $300 to $1,200 ($150 to $600 per strut assembly)
- Labor: $150 to $300
Dealership prices are often higher; frequently more than $1,000 for a front strut replacement. It is not uncommon for some high-class or luxury cars to get estimates nearing the $2,000 mark for each axle estimate (2 struts).
In order to receive the best price, make sure to get a minimum of two to three quotes from wellknown dealers, shops, or even independent mechanics.
The actual cost of strut replacement depends on several factors, such as:
- Brand of struts – common brands include KYB, Monroe, Gabriel, and Bilstein
- Your vehicle’s year, make, and model
- Where do you have the work done?
Important Note: After strut (or shock) replacement, a wheel alignment has to be done. Whenever receiving a quote to replace your struts, check to see if the cost of a wheel alignment is included or if it is an added cost.
Usually, 2-wheel alignment (if only front struts are replaced) is in the $50 to $100 range. If struts or shocks are replaced on all four corners, 4-wheel alignment at $100 to $200 is needed.
Shock Replacement Cost
Just like struts, shocks should always be replaced in pairs out of necessity for balanced vehicle handling. Relatively speaking, shock replacement is cheaper than strut replacement due to the former’s simple design.
Average Cost Breakdown:
- Total cost for a pair of shocks: $300 to $650
- Parts: $100 to $300 ($50 to $150 per shock absorber)
- Labor: $200 to $350 (typically 2 hours of work)
As a rough estimate, multiply the costs above by two for all four shocks.
As is the case with struts, the estimated cost is dependent on the shock make, the vehicle model, and the replacement service center.
Notes of importance:
- Luxury vehicles like Mercedes, Audis, BMW, and Lexus, along with sports car,s tend to bear an above-average cost as a result of more intricate shock absorber systems.
- Some models utilize shocks exclusively instead of a combination of struts and shocks.
Wheel Alignment Cost
Replacing old struts and shocks on a vehicle may modify its alignment, resulting in abnormal vehicle lateral tilt during motion and uneven tire wear that contributes to untimely tire damage.
In order to avoid this, most mechanics will suggest a wheel alignment following a strut replacement. Depending on the kind of suspension your vehicle has, an alignment may be needed after replacing the shocks as well.
An alignment will readjust the wheels to the defined configuration, restoring normal patterns of tire wear and increasing tire longevity.
From $150 to $200 is the range for the cost of a wheel alignment, with an additional $20 set aside for the supplies.
Symptoms of Bad Shocks and Struts
There is no automotive part that can outstand time. A shock absorber and strut assembly usually takes more of a beating than most other parts, especially when the automobile is driven frequently on rougher roads.
When failing, old and worn-out shocks and struts may manifest any of these symptoms:
Nose dive when braking
Have you looked at the front end of your car’s body when you apply the brakes? If you see that the part appears to be nosediving toward the ground, it means that the car may be suffering from worn out shocks and struts.
It is very risky as it can lead to an increased stopping distance, rendering the vehicle unsafe to operate.
Bouncy ride
Shocks and struts malfunctioning can lead to too much bouncing when a bump is hit, as well. Crashing into a bump will produce a bounce but there’s a limit to that. If there is an excessive bounce, that means the vehicle isn’t able to settle after hitting the bump.
It is safe to say that shocks and struts have reached a level where they can no longer easily absorb road impacts.
The vehicle rolls or sways when cornering
Realizing that your vehicle is rolling or swaying when making a turn is not only bothersome but also quite concerning because it gives the impression that you are out of control of the vehicle.
As shocks wear, they may lose effectiveness in controlling the amount of weight shift that occurs during a turn. This can result in increased steering effort to turn the steering wheel during a turn.
Uneven tire wear
When a vehicle’s shocks and struts are too worn out, the bouncing leads to a decrease in grip on the road. This bouncing can also lead to increased tire wear that includes scalloping or cupping of the tires (gouges of rubber being removed from the tire).
Rear squat during acceleration
Shocks and struts that are working properly should control the movement of the vehicle’s suspension during acceleration of the vehicle.
When your shocks and struts are working poorly, the rear portion of the vehicle tends to squat too much when accelerating the vehicle by pressing the gas pedal.
Vibration in the steering wheel
Having some vibration in the steering wheel while driving is normal, especially on a bumpy road. However, if your steering wheel shakes on smooth roads, there is a chance that your shocks, struts, or steering stabilizer is malfunctioning.
Unusual noises
Vibration noises that are experienced can be due to the wearing out of the shocks and the struts. A clunking or knocking sound happens due to the metal-to-metal contact when either the shock or the strut bottoms out and starts hitting a bump.
Additionally, worn-out shock or strut mounting parts may be producing the aforementioned noises.
Leaking fluid on exterior of shocks/struts
Shocks and struts showing signs of excessive hydraulic fluid is a strong indicator that they are becoming worn. If the seals begin to fail, the vital fluid necessary for the shocks or struts to properly function, begins to leak outside.
When To Replace Shocks And Struts
The longevity of shocks and struts relies solely on driving styles, road conditions, the make and model of your car.
A lot of individuals will never have to change diffusing shocks because they do not own the vehicle long enough for this part to require replacement. In general, shocks will last roughly 0,000 to 100,000 miles compared to struts, which have the same lifespan.
Riding behavior plays a vital role in how long both components will last. If you tend to accelerate carefully over rough surfaces, you may be able to increase the longevity of the parts. Conversely, if you enjoy rough driving over bad roads, your parts will deteriorate much more quickly.
Starting around 60,000 miles, after every 10,000 miles increment, you should perform an examination and mark the external surface of the shock with a marker and see if there is any movement in the mark after a hundred miles. If there is a sign of fluid leaking from the shock, then it can be replaced.
Additionally, make sure to pay close attention to other indicators highlighted in the previous section, for example, a bumpy ride or a drop at the front end while braking.
Unless you are experiencing some shock-related problems, there is no need to change them, and it is recommended to use the current ones until they malfunction. It is not necessary to change the shocks until they become unusable.