Worn Struts and Shocks: Symptoms, Fixes, Safety and Maintenance Tips

When struts or shocks start to wear, your car will let you know well in advance of anything catastrophic happening. The ride feels unsettled. The body leans or bounces in ways it never used to. And because these components handle both comfort and control, any wear tends to show up as very real changes in how the car behaves on the road.

You might notice the car jolting over bumps it once absorbed smoothly. Hard braking may cause the front end to dip more than normal. Tyres can start wearing unevenly because the suspension isn’t keeping them planted properly. Even simple things like going over a speed bump feel harsher or oddly floaty, depending on which part of the suspension is struggling.

There are a few temporary workarounds that mask mild symptoms, but they don’t resolve the underlying wear. Once struts or shocks degrade, replacement is the only reliable way to bring back the stability, handling and safety your car was designed to deliver.

In today’s guide, you’ll learn about all of that and more.

What are worn struts and shocks?

Worn struts and shocks are suspension components that have lost their ability to control movement. They directly affect how stable, predictable and comfortable your car feels on the road.

Your car’s struts and shocks are designed to keep the tyres firmly in contact with the surface and stop the body from bouncing or leaning excessively as you make contact with uneven road surfaces. They’re constantly working in the background to make your ride smooth and safe.

When they wear out, it’s not possible to manage that movement anymore. So the car bounces more, leans more and reacts less precisely to steering and braking inputs.
That’s why keeping struts and shocks in good condition matters. Neglect them for too long and you’re dealing with an uncomfortable ride and dangerous issues like longer stopping distances, poor handling in emergencies and uneven tyre wear.

What causes struts and shocks to wear out?

Struts and shocks wear out for all sorts of reasons – usually a mix rather than a single culprit. 

Potholes and rough roads batter the components; heavy loads strain them; hard braking and fast cornering force them into overdrive; age slowly weakens seals and internal fluid. And if you skip maintenance and small issues turn into big ones.

Staying mindful of the following factors (and having the car serviced regularly) helps you prevent early strut and shock failure.

• Poor road conditions: Poor road conditions wear out struts and shocks quickly because every pothole, crack and uneven surface sends extra force through the suspension. Instead of smoothing the road, the components take repeated heavy hits. Rural B-roads full of potholes and older city streets with broken tarmac are the main trouble spots. Whenever possible, avoid rough route and slow down when you’re driving on damaged surfaces. On top of that, get the suspension inspected regularly to catch early wear.
• Overloading the vehicle: Overloading with weight puts excessive strain on the struts and shocks, which causes them to wear down and break much faster. When you carry more weight than the vehicle is rated for, the suspension has to work harder and might even bottom out. This reduces damping performance and increases the risk of premature failure. On top of that, the car has to work harder to propel itself forward, so engine overheating is a common issue as well. Stick to the manufacturer’s load capacity to protect the suspension and avoid unnecessary damage.
• Age and mileage: Age and mileage naturally wear down struts and shocks because their internal seals and fluid degrade over time. Older cars and those past 80,000 to 100,000 miles show more bouncing, body roll and reduced stability as the suspension system weakens. Preventative measures like replacing the dampers as the car ages are critical for this because the problem is gradual, which makes it easy to miss at first. If you want your suspension to perform like it should, replace the components before they totally give out and you have a noticeable driving issue.
• Faulty suspension components: Faulty suspension components like worn bushings, damaged springs and loose sway bars can make struts and shocks wear out much faster. When one part fails, the dampers have to compensate by absorbing extra movement they weren’t designed to handle. A cracked spring, for example, can cause uneven load, and worn bushings cause the shocks to vibrate together. Regular suspension checks are all it takes to make sure every component is working properly and prevent premature suspension failure elsewhere in the system.
• Lack of regular maintenance: Since small issues go unnoticed until they’ve already caused damage, foregoing regular maintenance is one of the easiest ways to accelerate strut and shock wear. Without routine checks, leaks, weakened seals and misalignment will quietly worsen over time. Simple maintenance tasks like inspecting for oil leaks on the shocks, checking mounting points and paying attention for uneven tyre wear are all you need to catch early problems before they turn into expensive repairs. And staying on top of scheduled inspections prevents the struts and shocks from wearing out before they should.

What are the signs and symptoms of worn struts and shocks?

You’ll know you have work struts and shocks if rougher rides, weaker handling and a general drop in comfort and safety are your main issues.

You’ll feel every bump, notice the front end dip under braking and, if the issue has progressed, see uneven tyre wear. Clunking noises over potholes and the car swaying on roundabouts are also common when the problem’s been going on for a while.

Spotting and addressing the below signs of worn struts and shocks early will help you prevent further suspension damage and keeps the car safe to drive.

• Bumpy ride and increased bouncing: A bumpy, unsettled ride is one of the clearest signs that struts or shocks are wearing out. Once they lose their ability to absorb impacts, every bump and ripple in the road is way more noticeable. The car will bounce a little after you hit speed bumps, vibrate on uneven lanes and bob on motorway expansion joints. The constant small movements are uncomfortable and as they get worse, they put a perpetually increasing amount of stress on the suspension. Replacing worn dampers will restore their stability and prevent further damage from happening.
• Nose-diving during braking: Nose diving happens when the front of the car dips sharply under braking, and it’s a classic sign of worn struts or shocks. When these components lose their damping strength, they can’t control the forward weight transfer, so the suspension compresses too quickly. The car will feel unstable and your typical stopping distance will increase, particularly during sudden braking. When this is the issue, replacing worn dampers should restore proper control and, by extension, your braking system’s safety and predictability.
• Uneven tyre wear (cupping): Uneven tyre wear – and cupping in particular – is a strong indicator your struts or shocks aren’t properly controlling the tyres. When the suspension can’t keep the wheels firmly planted, the tyres bounce slightly, creating scalloped or patchy wear around the tread. Tyres don’t wear out overnight, so this’ll mainly be a problem if the suspension might see alternating high and low spots or feel a rhythmic vibration at speed. Regular suspension checks and timely replacement of worn dampers prevent further tyre damage and help maintain proper alignment and stability.
• Strange noises (clunking or knocking): Clunking and knocking noises happen when the strut bottoms out or the internals get loose. It’s most obvious when you go over bumps or make turns because that’s when the loose or worn components move around. You might also notice a squeaking or creaking, which would point to failing mounts, bushings or internal shock wear. Persistent noises are a clear warning that the struts and shocks need a proper inspection (and likely replacement).
• Vehicle swaying or rolling: Worn struts and shocks make the car sway or roll more than normal when you go around bends and drive at higher speeds. When the suspension loses control, the body leans through roundabouts and feels unsettled when you make lane changes on the motorway. You might find yourself correcting the steering more often or feel the car “float” in crosswinds. Damper replacement is the fix here – it’ll stabilise the car for a safer and more predictable ride.
• Visible leaks or fluid stains: All your car’s suspension components rely on hydraulic fluid to control movement, so any leak reduces their ability to dampen bumps. If you see oily streaks on the shock body or dripping onto nearby suspension arms, the damper has already taken a huge performance hit. It’s normal for a thin film of oil to coat the piston rod, but a significant amount of dark, oily fluid should trigger an immediate inspection because, in most cases, this requires a strut/shock replacement to restore proper suspension control.

How to fix worn struts and shocks

Fixing worn struts and shocks comes down to choosing between temporary stopgaps and proper, permanent solutions.

Temporary measures include driving more cautiously to reduce impact loads and using stabiliser kits to limit body movement for a short period. They smooth things out a little but don’t restore full suspension control.

Permanent fixes like replacing the struts and shocks, fitting new mounts and refreshing related suspension parts tackle the underlying wear, so they bring the car back to its full handling performance.

Temporary fixes for worn struts and shocks

Temporary fixes ease the symptoms from worn struts and shocks, but they won’t restore full suspension performance. So, the following measures help in the short term, but proper replacement is needed for lasting stability and safety.

• Cautious driving and suspension adjustments: Cautious driving eases the strain on worn struts and shocks by reducing how hard the suspension has to work. Slowing for potholes, avoiding harsh braking and taking corners smoothly all limit sudden weight shifts. But some wear on the components will naturally happen no matter how you drive, so this won’t stop an already-broken suspension kit from breaking even more. Do this to buy time, but know that proper replacement is still required for long-term performance.
• Using strut stabiliser kits: Strut stabiliser kits add stiffness to steady the suspension to reduce bouncing and improve stability over bumps and rough roads. That gives you a short-term way to support worn struts and shocks. Common examples include clamp-on coil spring boosters and rubber insert spacers that sit between spring coils, and a lot of these kits simply clamp onto the existing strut assembly. While they do smooth things out briefly, again… you’ll need a full strut and shock replacement to restore proper suspension performance.
• Avoiding rough roads and potholes: Like the first solution in the list, this eases the strain on your suspension by reducing the harsh impacts they’re forced to absorb. Potholes, broken tarmac and uneven lanes destroy your shocks and struts faster, so steering around them or slowing down before going over them will prevent some further damage. Still, it’s only short-term relief and replacing the worn struts and shocks is the only reliable way to restore safety and stability.
• Temporary band-aid solutions: Temporary band-aid solutions offer quick relief for worn struts and shocks, but they’re not long-term fixes. As mentioned earlier, drivers sometimes use coil spring boosters, rubber spring inserts or universal clamp-on stabiliser kits to add stiffness and reduce bouncing for a short time. They smooth out minor symptoms, but they don’t restore proper damping. A professional inspection and full strut/shock replacement is still required.

Permanent fixes for worn struts and shocks

“Permanent fix” means replacing the worn struts and shocks entirely, rather than masking or temporarily deferring the problem. New dampers restore the car’s handling and ride comfort. Braking becomes more stable, cornering feels controlled and the car stops bouncing. The following are the only safe and effective ways to protect the suspension in the long term.

• Full strut and shock replacement: Full strut and shock replacement involves removing the worn dampers, fitting new units and tightening all mounts to specification. You’ll probably also need a wheel alignment afterward to make sure the tyres are making even contact with the ground. This approach brings back stable handling, smoother ride comfort and safer braking, making it the best long-term solution for a worn suspension.
• Suspension system overhaul: A suspension system overhaul is the more viable option when worn struts and shocks are just one part of the issue. This is typical when the car already has 100,000+ miles on it and will naturally have more widespread suspension issues. The process involves replacing the dampers along with springs, bushings, control arms and worn mounts (or a full suspension replacement in extreme cases). This approach is more expensive, but it restores balance across the whole system at once for noticeably better handling, stability and ride quality.
• Professional repair services: Professional repair services are the safest and most reliable way to deal with worn struts and shocks, regardless of what the exact issue is. A mechanic can easily spot related issues you’d otherwise miss, carry out the right repair jobs, and fit everything correctly. Not to mention, they’re able to do the wheel alignment, which is impossible without several expensive specialist tools. Unless you’re a professional mechanic yourself, there are simply too many ways to mess up a DIY suspension repair job like this.
• Post-replacement wheel alignment: Post-replacement wheel alignment is an essential next step once you’ve fitted the new struts and shocks. The reason is that the suspension geometry changes the moment those parts are removed and refitted. Since struts in particular help set the car’s alignment angles, replacing them without realigning will create steering problems or force the car to pull to one side. It’ll also increase braking distances and make cornering less predictable. A proper wheel alignment after replacement prevents that, so it’s exactly what you need if you want to make sure the new struts/shocks will last their full lifetime.
• Ongoing maintenance checks to prevent future damage: Ongoing maintenance checks prevent your suspension system from wearing out sooner than it’s supposed to. They surface small issues before they become expensive failures. As a driver, you should take a monthly look at the dampers, springs, bushings and mounts, as well as checking for leaks, uneven tyre wear and alignment problems. And some problems, like misalignment, aren’t always visible to the naked eye, which is why it’s so important to stick to your servicing schedule as well. Consistent, proactive maintenance is all you need to avoid premature wear and keep struts and shocks performing properly.

How much does it cost to fix worn struts and shocks?

Replacing worn struts and shocks usually costs £320 to £1,380, depending on the vehicle type, the quality of the parts and the labour rate your local shop charges.

You should always replace them in axle pairs (though many mechanics will recommend replacing all four at once) because mismatched damping on one side will throw off the car’s balance, even after you get a realignment. That’ll lead to uneven tyre wear and make the car feel unstable under braking or cornering – both issues the replacement was supposed to fix.

Worn struts and shocks replacement cost (UK, 2026)

Since the prices vary so wildly, it’s always worth getting a few quotes to make sure you’re paying a fair rate. That’ll help you weigh the long-term value of quality components and proper installation vs the total value of your car.

When should you fix worn struts and shocks?

Knowing when to fix worn struts and shocks is essential for avoiding further suspension damage and staying safe on the road. Minor wear might only need monitoring or short-term fixes, but severe bouncing, leaks and handling issues mean full replacement is due.

Either way, one thing’s for certain: putting it off makes the damage worse and will seriously affect your car’s comfort and safety.

When to replace worn struts and shocks

Replacement becomes necessary when worn struts and shocks show clear signs of severe damage rather than mild wear. Excessive bouncing, nose-diving under braking, fluid leaks and obvious physical damage all point to components that are irreparable.

For example, a leaking shock or a strut with failed internal seals won’t regain damping strength through quick fixes. In those instances, replacement is the only safe option. Delaying it creates a noticeable drop in overall vehicle performance and poses tremendous safety risks.

When to repair worn struts and shocks

Repairs may be enough when wear on the struts or shocks is minimal and the components haven’t lost their core damping ability. You can sometimes correct small issues like a light misting of fluid, loose mounts, worn bushings and noisy top mounts without replacing the dampers themselves, if they’re not specifically related to the struts and shocks themselves.

But again, these fixes restore acceptable performance for a short period and won’t seriously stop anything if, in fact, it is your struts and shocks that’re the problem. Repairs are only ever a temporary measure; full replacement will still be needed eventually to maintain long-term safety and proper suspension performance.

When scrapping your car is the better option

Sometimes it’s genuinely more cost-effective to scrap the car instead of repairing worn struts and shocks, especially when the repair bill is more than 50% of what the vehicle is actually worth.

If you drive an older car with high mileage, and then you find out you’d need multiple suspension components replaced at once, the ROI of putting more money into it just isn’t there. A £1,000 suspension job on a £2,000 car, for example, makes very little financial sense.

So if you want to know whether to scrap your car, weigh its condition and remaining value against the repair costs before deciding whether to fix it or let it go. And if it’s close to that 50% margin, also consider major repairs you have coming up in the next year and what they’ll cost.

How can you prevent strut and shock damage?

Preventing strut and shock damage starts with basic care and regular checks. With consistent maintenance, you can extend the suspension system’s life by as much as half a decade and avoid the costly repairs that come with suspension failure.

On top of that, simple habits like inspecting the suspension, slowing for rough roads and keeping the right tyre pressure reduce the strain you put on the dampers, which makes them last longer.

Key preventive measures include:

• Regular vehicle inspections: Having the car professionally inspected at least annually or every 12,000 to 15,000 miles is how you catch early signs of strut and shock wear before they turn into big and expensive problems. A routine check should cover the dampers themselves, plus springs, bushings, mounts and external signs of fluid leaks and uneven tyre wear. Issues like light misting on a shock, worn top mounts or early cupping on tyres are all things an inspection can spot.
• Avoid overloading the vehicle: You might not realise how much excessive stress you’re putting on the car when you carry heavy tools, overpack for a trip or load the boot beyond its stated capacity, but the suspension has to work much, much harder to control the extra mass. This leads to quicker damping loss and, eventually, bottoming out. Most small cars have payload limits of roughly 400 to 500 kg; going beyond that will noticeably tank the suspension’s performance. Note your manufacturer’s weight limits and stick to them – that’s the easiest way to protect the suspension and prevent premature damage to the struts and shocks.
• Drive carefully over rough terrain: This is another one of the easiest ways to reduce strain on your struts and shocks. The suspension is designed to take some of a beating, but repeated sharp impacts destroy the struts and shocks a lot faster. By slowing down before uneven surfaces, easing over speed humps and avoiding harsh acceleration on rough ground, you soften those hits and help the dampers cope. Even a simple habit like steering around a deep pothole can prevent a heavy jolt that accelerates wear.
• Maintain proper tyre pressure: Drivers tend to overlook this, but it’s another part of reducing strain on your struts and shocks. Under-inflated tyres make the suspension absorb more impact and over-inflated tyres transfer harsh vibrations straight into the dampers, both of which wear them out faster. The correct tyre pressure spreads the vehicle’s weight evenly, so regularly checking and maintaining the manufacturer’s recommended pressures will protect the struts and shocks over time.
• Routine suspension system checks: Routine suspension system checks help you spot early issues with struts and shocks. Inspections should cover the dampers, springs, bushings, mounts and signs of leaks and corrosion. Catch things like light fluid misting, cracked bushings and uneven tyre wear, and it might be a simple repair that doesn’t touch the struts or shocks. Plus, regular suspension checks keep the whole system in good working order, so you won’t have huge problems with the rest of the system, either.
• Avoid potholes and harsh driving: Potholes, broken tarmac and uneven surfaces send sudden, forceful impacts through the suspension, speeding up the natural wear and tear process that happens every time you drive. When you slow down before bumps, steer around deep potholes and ease off the throttle on rough terrain, you soften those blows and protect the dampers as a result. Paying close attention to road conditions and practising smoother driving habits will go a long way in prolonging the life of your struts and shocks.