Shocks and struts wear out gradually, so most drivers don't notice until the car feels properly unsafe. Here are the seven warning signs that mean it's time to replace yours — ranked by how serious they are.
1. The car bounces more than twice after a bump
Push down hard on each corner and let go. A healthy shock stops the body in one or two bounces. Three or more means the damper is gone.
2. Longer braking distances
Worn shocks let the front of the car dive under braking, lifting the rears and reducing grip. Independent tests show stopping distances grow by up to 2 metres at 50 mph with badly worn dampers.
3. Uneven or "cupped" tyre wear
Run your hand across the tread — if it feels like waves or scallops, the tyre is bouncing instead of staying planted. That's a damper, not a tracking problem.
4. Knocking or clunking over bumps
Usually a top mount, sometimes a snapped spring. Either way, get under the car and check before it gets worse.
5. Visible oil leak on the strut body
Once a damper leaks, the seal is gone and performance drops fast. Replace immediately — and in pairs.
6. The car "wallows" through corners or motorway lane changes
Floaty, vague steering on the motorway is a classic worn-shock symptom. It also means your stability control has less to work with if you have to swerve.
7. Mileage over 80,000 with no record of replacement
Even without symptoms, dampers degrade slowly. If yours have never been changed and the car's done over 80k, they're past their best.
Replace in pairs, always
Mixing a new shock with a worn one on the same axle makes the car pull and upsets the geometry. Front pair or rear pair — always. A pre-assembled strut kit is the fastest way to do it without touching a spring compressor.