You are testing your suspension. You notice that your vehicle keeps bouncing when you press down on the front wing. What does this mean?

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SIGNS OF WORN SHOCKS AND STRUTS

- Brake nose dive - Does it feel like the front end of your automobile dips swiftly toward the ground when you press the brakes? This is known as a nose dive and can be caused by worn shocks and struts. It is problematic since it might increase stopping distance.

- Excessive bouncing when you hit a bump might indicate that your shocks and struts aren't performing properly. After striking a bump, your car should settle rather than continuing to bounce. Worn shocks and struts are unable to absorb road impacts and smooth the ride.

- Vehicle sways or rolls when cornering - Feeling as if your vehicle is swaying or rolling when turning is not only bothersome, but also frightening since it can make you feel as if you are not in control of your vehicle. As shocks degrade, they may lose their capacity to manage the rate of weight transfer when travelling around corners, requiring more steering input to handle turns.

- Uneven tyre wear - When your vehicle's shocks and struts wear out, the vehicle might bounce, resulting in a loss of road holding force. This bouncing can also cause rapid tyre wear, such as cupping or scalloping (when pieces of rubber are gouged out of the tire).

- Rear squat during acceleration - When accelerating, properly functioning shocks and struts control suspension movement. When your shocks and struts fail, the rear of your car may squat excessively when you apply pressure on the gas pedal. The momentum of the vehicle is transmitted to the back, causing the front end to rise, contributing to passenger motion sickness and needlessly high loading on the rear suspension components.

- Vibration in steering wheel - When driving on a bumpy road, it is normal to feel some vibration in your steering wheel. If you feel comparable sensations on calm roads, it's possible that your shocks, struts, or steering stabiliser are worn.

- Strange noises - When shock absorbers and struts wear down, you may hear a clunking or knocking sound. Upon the shock or strut bottoms out when striking a bump, metal-to-metal contact causes this sound. Furthermore, these sounds might be caused by worn shock or strut mounting components.

- Fluid leaking from the shocks/struts' outside - If you see a lot of hydraulic fluid leaking from your shocks or struts, it might mean they're worn out. If the seals fail, the fluid necessary for the effective operation of your shocks and struts escapes.