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Strut your stuff

Most motorist are practically unaware what shocks and struts do, or are unaware that they even have them on their vehicle. The fact is that without shocks and/or struts, our vehicles would be dangerous and almost impossible to drive. The shocks and/or struts on your vehicle are very vital toward your vehicles performance, comfort, and safety.

The primary duties of the shock or strut is to dampen the spring movement in your suspension and keep your tires in contact with the surface of the road. If you took all the shocks off a vehicle (on a vehicle with 4 shocks) your car would ride as if you were on a waterbed. After each bump, you vehicle would bounce until gravity stopped the movement. Vehicles equipped with struts would not be capable of moving if the struts were removed.

Your struts and shocks are that important. Worn shocks and struts affect handling, ride, stopping distance while braking, and tire wear.

How long do struts and shocks last and when should I change them?

Since struts and shocks wear out gradually, it normally goes unnoticed that one strut and/or shock has worn out. Quit often, only when the vehicles owner has changed their struts and/or shocks, do they realize how worn their struts and/or shocks were. It’s similar to the gradual, yet significant, change in your eyesight that can occur over time; you might not notice how badly you need a new eyeglass prescription until you take a vision test. We have found that original equipment (O.E.) shocks commonly wear out starting at about 50,000 miles and O.E. struts commonly wear out about 80,000 miles. Please note, struts and shocks can fail at much lower mileages and may even remain functional at much higher mileages.

There are distinguishing differences between your choices for replacement struts and shocks. After-market manufacturers of ride control products (shocks and struts) have developed products that address both handling and ride issues. Shocks and struts that are stiffer will allow the vehicle to handle better through turns and braking but will ride more harshly. Vehicles that have softer shocks and struts will give a smoother ride but may allow the vehicle to “roll” and “sway” through turns and will also dive when braking. Some manufacturers have produced a variable shock or strut, giving the driver the best of both worlds; a smooth ride when cruising and providing noticeable handling benefits when the vehicle is driven more aggressively.

Severly worn struts or shocks will allow the tire to bounce, or dribble, after hitting a bump. Worn struts and shocks will also allow your vehicle to dip forward during hard breaking, affecting both handling and braking performance. When the tire bounces or dribbles, it does not have full contact with the road and breaking distance is increased and control of the vehicle becomes difficult. The stickiest tires in the world won’t steer or stop a car if it’s in the air. Wet weather driving will also be difficult as the roads become slick from the water on the road. Worn shocks or struts will increase the chances of hydroplaning.

There is no definitive number of miles that will let you know how long your struts or shocks will last. In many cases, you will want to replace them as an Improved Performance, or a Preventative Maintenance, measure. Once your struts or shocks fail, vehicles handling can become scary, and sometimes, dangerous.

We have seen a handful of cases where vehicles (with O.E. struts) handling becomes dangerous due to strut failure on vehicles with mileage over 100,000. As your vehicles shocks or struts near the end of their useful life some things that you will notice are excessive road noise or vehicle bounce—especially over a bumpy road. You may also see unusual tire wear such as “cupping”.

A visual inspection of the strut or shock can only reveal leakage or external damage. Because the strut or shock wears on the inside, the only way to tell if it’s good or bad is a test drive, or symptoms given by the customer’s complaint. Watch to see if the front end dives excessively on sudden braking. A good gauge of your shock or struts condition is when you go over a speed bump. If the front of your vehicle continues to bounce after the front tires has cleared the speed bump then there’s a good chance your strut or shock needs replacement.

Don’t expect your vehicles ride to become smoother when you replace your struts on shocks. Worn struts and shocks actually give you a softer (but not safer) ride. Commonly customers are upset when they replace their struts or shocks and find the ride is more harsh. If you replace your struts or shocks and the ride stays the same, you either replace them too soon or used a product at the lower end of the available technology. When replacing struts, don’t over look the strut mount. The strut mount is the turn plate on the top of the strut that carries the full load of that spring. The strut plate commonly wears out consistently with the struts wear. You should always check your alignment after you replace struts and it’s strongly recommended after shock replacement.

We encourage Preventative Maintenance. As your vehicle nears 80,000-100,000 mile range; and if you plan to hold on to it for a year or more, we recommend O.E. strut and/or shock replacement as a preventative measure, and as an improved performance action.

Shocks are reasonably priced. Struts are much bulkier and replace suspension components that vehicles with shocks have, so they are noticeably pricier and require quit a bit of additional labor to replace. Backyard mechanics can, normally, easily replace their own shocks. But, untrained persons who attempt to change struts actually facelife threatening hazards in attempting such a feat.

If your well maintained vehicle is running up in mileage and you prefer keeping your beloved auto verses buying a new high priced model; strut and shocks replacement is well worth the investment. In a time where car payments frequently run $500 and up, a new car payment dwarfs the expense to keep your trusted vehicle; the one you know and trust so well, on our beautiful roads.

*Labor based on TRIAD, a national standard for replacement labor units.

Categories:

Suspension
4.6 STAR AVERAGEVIEW REVIEWS
Yelp Review: I needed to change all 4 of my tires. I usually go to Costco because its less expensive. BUT because there is always such a long wait at Costco, I decided to go to Lex Brodie. Great decision. Customer service is first rate here and it ended up being less than Costco. It was fast!
6/11/2023
Jay. Y.
5
Yelp Review: Great crew as usual. Professional, knowledgeable and just plain cool to do business with.
11/14/2023
Richard A.
5
I have been a Lex Brodie client for over 20 years. Today, I still get the same great service every single time I’m there!
Carlin K.
5
Wonderful, quick service. My low tire pressure light came on while driving to work downtown. I was able to make an appointment to drop off my car at lunch and picked it up after work. No charge for checking my tires and the employees were extremely friendly and efficient even though they were busy.
Judy C.
5
Google Review: Recently walked-in to Lex Brodies for a slow leak on one of my tires. The staff was friendly enough but extremely efficient. The price quote was accurate and reasonable. Big thing to know is that they service Teslas for a much more reasonable cost, something like 2-3 times cheaper than getting checked at the service center. Recommend for convenience, reasonable pricing and speed of service.
3/18/2024
Martin H.
5
Google Review: I cannot recommend Lex Brodie's highly enough. Their commitment to excellence, exceptional customer service, and expertise in their field make them a trusted and reliable choice for anyone in need of tire, brake, or general automotive services. I am grateful to have discovered such a reputable establishment and will undoubtedly be returning for all my future automotive needs.
7/10/2023
Deven L.
5
Google Review: I've gone here a few times over the past couple of years (oil change, brakes, safety check, alignment) and they've always been able to get me in within a day or two instead of the many week long waits of other mechanics in the area. They're very honest and straightforward, I was never pressured to get extra or unnecessary work done. A solid and reliable group of folks!
7/27/2023
Emily J.
5
Google Review:My first time at Lex Brodie's. The service was outstanding! Went in for brake service and they did a complete inspection of my 4runner. I was expecting to replace pads and shoes. after inspection they informed me that my brakes were in good condition. There was no charge. Hard to find that kind of honest service. Not because it was free of charge, but because they were professional and honest!
7/19/2023
Daniel F.
5
Lex Brodie's give you a fair assessment Fast , honest and friendly service, especially on a weekend. Appreciate you getting me back on the road while keeping me in my budget.
7/2/2023
Mario R.
5
Yelp Review: These folks are fantastic. GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE!!! I truly enjoy my visits to this location and my interactions with the employees! All smiles!
5/21/2023
Eric H.
5
Yelp Review: First off I don't do Yelp reviews, good or bad. My experience here has always been honest and accommodating, as well as prompt! I have been bringing my car here for far more than just tires. The staff is always amazing, and I want to say thank you! to Lex Brodie's staff!
7/19/2023
Robert S.
5
Yelp review: Fast same day installation. Tires were in stock unlike the big box stores where tires had to be shipped in. I either had to wait for the shipment to arrive or wait a week for an installation date (two different stores). Tires were balanced and installed faster than the two hour wait anticipated. So you pay a little more for the tires, you don't have to wait for the shipment to arrive (longer than the promised wait time) or waiting for an open installation date.
3/14/2024
Michael N.
5
Have been going to Lex Brodie's for tire and alignment work for over 40 years and they have been outstanding. Sure, I've experienced a few "quirks" with them, but that also happens with any other best other shops taking care of them in good order.
Alan Y.
5
Going to Lex Brodie's Waipahu is always like stopping by a good friend's house. Lei, Blossom and Kekoa always take care of business professionally and personally. They know their business and take care of everyone courteously and with the best customer service anywhere. The maintenance was taken care of completely, with an excellent review and recommendations by Lei. Blossom took care of the follow up appointment and parts ordering completely, patiently, and as everyone there, like old friends. Always great to see Lei, Blossom and Kekoa!
6/21/2023
Phillip M.
5
Google Review: Excellent service, sincere employees whose main goal is to make clients happy, fix their their car concern and eases their worries. This is how I feel each time I bring my car to their Waipahu location. Less talk, more work, and fair cost! Much aloha and mahalo, Waipahu Crew!!
6/12/2023
Elizabeth P.
5
I always receive great service from this location. Today I had Jack and he was awesome. He explained the services and pricing. Extremely helpful. The woman who cashed me out (ugh I wish I got her name) was so kind and courteous, too! 5-stars all around! Mahalo!
Lisa U.
5
Thank you for always taking care of my car. consistently respectful, good communication. Thank you for fitting me in and keeping it transparent
Catherine M.
5
Easy online appointments, quick in person check in and drop off. Car was running great! Thank you for the quick service. Will always come back to Lex Brody's.
6/9/2023
Douglas C.
5
I am very happy with great customer service and friendly staff at Waipahu location and highly recommed. They take pride in taking care of there customers. And they honor military discount. Mahalo
Abdul R.
5
No one anticipates to have a flat tire while going about their day, so needing to deal with a flat tire is always a frustrating ordeal…Thankfully, paying a visit to Lex Brodie’s has never added to that frustration and instead provides a pleasant, friendly experience every time. Thank you to the team at Lex Brodie’s Aiea for taking care of me during my most recent visit.
6/19/2023
Troy A.
5
First time at lex Brodie’s it was excellent service and the girls at the front were really helpful.
Ronald & Sally H.
5
This was my first visit with Lex Brodie Kaneohe branch and I’m sold as a forever customer. The manger Gerard and his staff treated me like Ohana. I highly recommend Lex Brodie Kaneohe branch if anyone needs tire and/or brake service. They are the best. Mahalo🤙🏽🙏🏽
Ken Y.
5
Great experience. Very easily scheduling online, the service advisor explained exactly what they would do, and they got done quicker than expected!
James P.
5
My go to for our company and personal auto tire needs. They provide excellent customer service from beginning to end. The receptionists are gems there as they hold down the calls and processing without losing their cool. They also answer phones in a timely manner. Wait time is excellent compared to dealerships. And they do quality work and hold true to their warranties/guarantees. Appreciate your hard work there at Lex Brodie's!!!!
11/14/2023
Bryce. F.
5
Yelp Review: Jack and the girls at the front took really good care of me and my mom. They are professional and probably one of the most honest mechanic shops I have been to. You can tell they really want to make their customers happy and give them the most fair price they can. Jack and the sales girl I talked to broke down all the costs before starting the work so I knew exactly what we were paying for. Great staff, patient, kind, and honest. This place treats you like family and wants you to leave happy.
5/21/2023
Kai C.
5
Yelp Review: Outstanding customer service! Unfortunately, everything that could possibly go wrong with my vehicle, went wrong. I was more than stressed, until I contacted Lex Brodies Waipahu. I will continue to support such an awesome business. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
7/28/2023
Kristi K.
5
Yelp Review: Having car trouble sucks but we all know that finding a good mechanic is half the stress of getting the repair done. I've been taking my cars here for years and they've always treated me right and charged me fairly for the work. The team is always so nice and their customer service top notch. Shout out to Kevin for helping me on my last visit. Keep up the good work guys !
8/2/2023
Jay M.
5
Easy to book appointment via web. Coupon and extra saving booked on line are great! Excellent customer service. I really liked how they explained what they worked on and how should take care of it. Good job!😄 👍 Mahalo for your excellent customer service.😄
8/28/2023
Melanie P.
5
Staff are always very friendly and range of services is convenient. I also like the online reservation system, and the waiting area is great, too.
Mark S M.
5
Love the service ! Friendly staff ,Fast and efficient. On line booking makes it convenient .
Terri M.
5
Google Review :I really like this place! It's super convenient and I have consistently been able to get great same day service. Jordan in particular is extremely professional, friendly, fast and somehow keeps up with what's going on with my vehicles in between services
6/28/2023
Parks M.
5
Yelp Review: My tire went flat and I wondered how Lex Brodies would handle it. Let me say the schedule an online appointment was easy and timely. I arrived on time and was out of there in 30 minutes. That is customer service! Thanks!
3/13/2024
Mike D.
5
Yelp Review: Always exceptional service. I never feel cheated and the online coupons are always nice.
7/7/2023
Loraine H.
5
I am very satisfied with the service at Lex Brodie’s. The staff were all very helpful and the work was completed timely and for the estimated price.
Robert R.
5

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