Yes, the bounce test really works for testing your shocks and struts. This being said, we would also be happy to inspect your suspension to see if the struts and shocks need to be replaced and whether there are any other problems. The struts and shocks last between 50,000 miles and 100,000 miles. If you have this type of mileage on your vehicle’s odometer, it may be time to replace the shocks and struts. Here is how you can test them to see if this is the case.
Park on a Flat Surface
The first thing you want to do is park your automobile on a flat and level surface. You do not want to test the struts and shocks when your vehicle is parked on an incline. You will be causing your automobile to bounce up and down, and being on an incline can make it dangerous because the automobile may roll. It is better to park it on a flat surface that is level and put the vehicle in Park.
Set the Parking Brake
You should also set the parking brake to make sure the vehicle does not roll. This is particularly important if you drive an automobile that is equipped with a manual transmission. You do not want to run the risk of the vehicle rolling when you are standing in front of it or behind it. Therefore, make sure to set the parking brake so that the automobile will stay put during the test.
Bounce the Front End
Once you are parked in the parking brake is set, walk around to the front end of your automobile and set your hands on the hood. Using your arms, push up and down firmly to get the front end of your vehicle to start bouncing. Do this several times until the vehicle is bouncing really well. Once the vehicle is bouncing up and down significantly, remove your hands from the hood and check to see how many times it bounces before it stops. Three or more times means you need new struts.
Bounce the Rear End
You are going to do the same thing on the rear end of the vehicle. In this case, you will rest your hands on the trunk or tailgate if you have a truck and start the vehicle bouncing on the rear end. Once you’ve got a good bounce going, remove your hands and count to see how many times it continues to bounce.
If your automobile fails the bounce test, give us a call to set up an appointment for new shocks and struts.
