Smoothing Out the Bumps in Your Road
Back in the 60s when Griffin Brothers first went into business, most of us drove cars made by General Motors, Ford or Chrysler. Virtually all cars were rear wheel drive and most of us had never heard of fuel injection, disc brakes or rack and pinion steering. To say the very least, things have changed.
Just about everything else on our cars have changed drastically over the past fifty years, including the suspension systems on most cars and light trucks. There is still a fair number of shock absorbers out there, but much more common are the Macpherson struts you see. Shocks and Macpherson struts represent the heart of suspension systems on both cars and light trucks these days and, like other components, they need to be checked for fit and function from time to time and need to be replaced at prescribed intervals.
The suspension system on any car or light truck is what allows you to drive over pot holes or bumps in the road without suffering a jarring impact. They help make the ride smooth and comfortable for you and your passengers and they also allow your tires and wheels to survive mostly unscathed. Your car's suspension is critical in keeping your car safe and controllable in a very tough environment.
From time to time your shocks or your struts will need to be replaced. Unlike the shock absorbers of the 60s and 70s that were oil-filled and generally leaked all over the place once they were worn out, today’s shocks and struts are filled with nitrogen gas. This makes them much more durable and allows them to last much longer, although they are more difficult to see at a glance when they are bad.
MAP, the Motorist Assistance Program, which is a coalition of consumer and industry groups, recommends that shocks and struts be replaced at 50,000 miles or about four to five years for the average driver. As shocks and struts wear and go beyond their useful life, the driver will begin to suffer a reduced ride quality and you may begin to notice uneven tire wear. Your car or light truck may seem to sway and lean in turns.
When your car is in for service we will routinely inspect your suspension, just to make sure everything is as it should be and where appropriate, we will make recommendations for the replacement of your shocks or struts. At Griffin Brothersour greatest responsibility is keeping your car safe and reliable.
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