Your vehicle’s shocks play a major role in ride comfort, handling, and overall safety. Shocks help keep your tires in proper contact with the road, absorb bumps, and stabilize your car during braking and cornering. Over time, shocks wear out gradually, making the warning signs easy to miss. Recognizing the most common symptoms can help you replace worn shocks before they affect your control behind the wheel. At Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers, our local mechanics provide expert suspension repair in the greater Orlando area. Here are four signs that it’s time to replace your vehicle’s shocks.

Excessive Bouncing After Bumps

One of the clearest signs of worn shocks is excessive bouncing after hitting a bump or dip in the road. When shocks are working properly, your car should quickly settle after a single bounce. If the vehicle continues to bounce several times, the shocks may no longer be controlling the suspension effectively. This lack of damping can make driving uncomfortable and reduce stability, especially on uneven roads.

Nose Diving During Braking

If your car’s front end dips noticeably when you apply the brakes, it may be a sign that the front shocks are worn. Nose diving occurs because the shocks can no longer manage the weight transfer that happens during braking. This can increase stopping distances by reducing consistent tire contact with the road. In emergency braking situations, this loss of control can be particularly dangerous.

Poor Handling and Increased Body Roll

Worn shocks often cause a vehicle to feel unstable when turning or changing lanes. You may notice excessive body roll when cornering. This can happen when the shocks are no longer controlling suspension movement effectively. Poor handling can make the vehicle harder to steer accurately and increase the risk of losing control during sudden maneuvers.

Uneven or Cupped Tire Wear

Shocks play an important role in keeping tires evenly planted on the road surface. When they wear out, tires may bounce slightly as you drive, leading to uneven or cupped tread wear. This type of tire damage can shorten tire life and affect traction. If you notice irregular tire wear patterns, worn shocks could be a contributing factor.

Suspension Repair in Orlando

When you need auto repair in Orlando and the surrounding area, contact Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers at 407-502-4984. At our local auto shop, we can expertly address your vehicle’s repair and maintenance needs. Feel free to give us a call to schedule an appointment!