What Is a Car's Suspension System?
Your vehicle's shocks and struts are structural parts of its suspension system. A car's suspension system is responsible for maximizing the friction between your tires and the road's surface; this provides the most steering stability with good handling and makes sure you and your passengers are comfortable during the drive. If the roads in Dumfries were perfectly flat and straight, there would be no need for suspension in your vehicle. However, all roads, even Prince William County’s highways, have subtle imperfections that come in contact with the wheels of cars and apply force to them. A bump in the road causes your tires to move up and down, perpendicular to the road's surface. Without an intervening system, all this vertical energy produced by the wheels will transfer to your vehicle's frame, which will move in the same direction. Without your suspension system, even the wheels of your car can bounce off the road and then come back down with gravity. Your suspension is a system that will absorb the energy of the vertically accelerated wheel, allowing the frame and body to ride undisturbed while the wheels follow bumps in the road. Fortunately, we at Lyons Automotive Center are experts at diagnosing and repairing suspension.
What Are Shocks?
Shocks, also known as “shock absorbers,” make sure that your vehicle's wheels are always in contact with the ground. This is done by the shocks controlling the rebound and impact movement of your vehicle's springs and suspension. Shocks contain hydraulic fluid; when you drive over a bump or pothole, pressure is put on your shock's hydraulic fluid, which slows down the spring as it relaxes back into place.
What Are Struts?
The struts of a vehicle include the shock absorbers as well as the coil spring, spring seats, and strut bearing. Struts connect your vehicle's suspension parts together so they can support you as you drive on bumpy terrain or as you make sharp turns.
How Do I Know If My Shocks and Struts Need to Be Replaced?
Like all parts of your vehicle, shocks and struts can wear out over time. You may not notice that your shocks and struts are wearing out because the changes your vehicle will experience are incremental. Getting your shocks and struts replaced when needed is a must because they can impact your vehicle's stopping distances, particularly in rainy or snowy weather. Here are some signs to look out for that your shocks and struts need to be replaced as soon as possible:
Your vehicle feels unstable at high speeds - When you are driving on the highway, you may feel that your vehicle is constantly moving up and down.
Your vehicle "tips" on one side - If your vehicle seems to lean on one side when you turn and it feels wobbly, give Lyons Automotive Center a call at 703-221-7774. We serve residents of Bumfries, Woodbridge, Manassas, Stafford, Triangle, and beyond.
Your tires bounce excessively - Your tires may bounce for a while after you hit a bump in the road, and you may also hear a clunking noise.
Lyons Automotive - Your Reliable Shop for Shocks and Struts
We at Lyons Automotive Center in Prince William County are experts in all things auto repair. We've been fixing cars since 1989, and our owner Brett Lyons and technicians have decades of combined experience. We have excellent ratings based on reviews from many satisfied customers and our technicians are ASE Certified. No matter what issue you are having with your vehicle, we have a multitude of services you can take advantage of, such as scheduled maintenance, preventative maintenance, tune-ups, and smog testing. Our services also come with a 2-Year/24,000-Mile warranty.
Reasons You Should Do Business With Us:
To schedule an appointment with Lyons Automotive Center in Dumfries, give us a call at 703-221-7774 or schedule an appointment online. Lyons Automotive Center - Reliable Service You Can Trust.