Shocks & Struts para Buick Century

Buick Century Shocks and Struts

The shocks and struts are an important part of the suspension system of a vehicle. They have a significant impact on how well a vehicle handles as well as playing a large part in the general comfort of the ride. To keep your Buick Century riding comfortably, you should be familiar with how shocks and struts operate in your vehicle and when its time for them to be replaced or upgraded.

Contrary to what most people think, shocks and struts are not same thing. More than that, not every vehicle has both components. The Buick Century, however, is a vehicle that does incorporate both into the vehicle suspension.

Though they both play an integral part in the Buick Century suspension, shocks and struts serve different purposes. Shocks have only one task, but it is an important one. They control your Buick Centurys up and down movement. This lessens unnecessary bouncing, roll and sway during turns, and the downward force that is felt when your vehicle breaks or accelerates.

The struts part in the suspension is a bit more involved. Instead of simply being a component of the suspension, struts make up an independent assembly unto itself. They are a structural part of the suspension system that directly attaches to the chassis of the vehicle. Similar to how shocks control bounce, they also provide a dampening effect. They also support the suspension itself. There are three components which make up each strut. They are:

• Coil spring
• Strut housing
• Dampening unit

The systems and parts that comprise the suspension are designed to take a lot of punishment, but they are not built to last forever. Thousands of miles put on your Buick Century will cause wear and tear on the components of the suspension, including the shocks and struts. Driving in an environment with harsh roads increases the amount of pounding that the suspension takes which will degrade it faster. Signs that your shocks and struts are going bad are:

• Increased bounce while riding
• Suspension bottoms out
• Excessive sway or body rock when taking corners
• The vehicle nose dives when you hit the brakes
• Increased shaking and vibrations in the wheels after crossing over bumps

If you begin to notice a decrease in performance in how your Buick Century is handling and feel a little more up and down movement in your ride, its probably time to check a few things to determine if new shocks and or struts are needed. You should start by visually inspecting the shock and strut mounts for damage. This should be followed by checking for fluid leaks and checking for an unusual wear pattern on each tire. Generally speaking, you should replace shocks and struts after 50,000 miles of use.