What's the Difference Between Shocks and Struts

Shocks and struts are essential components of your Mazda's suspension system. They ensure that your Mazda maintains proper contact with the road surface, which is crucial for several reasons. Without firm contact, your Mazda's steering, handling, and braking capabilities can all be significantly compromised. In addition to these significant benefits, high-quality ride control products serve a variety of vital functions as well.

1. To ensure a stable and controlled ride experience, it's important to effectively manage excessive body and tire movement. This is where shocks and struts come into play, contributing their part.
2. If you want to reduce bounce, roll, and sway during your drives, having the right components is key. They work together harmoniously to minimize unwanted movements in your Mazda, resulting in improved comfort and stability.
3. When it comes to brake dive and acceleration squat, shocks and struts can be your trusty allies. They help maintain a level ride height, preventing excessive weight transfer when you hit the brakes or accelerate. This ensures optimal dynamics for your Mazda.
4. We all want consistent handling and reliable braking, right? Well, shocks and struts play a vital role in these areas. By promoting better tire-to-road contact, they enhance grip, giving you more predictable handling and improved braking performance.
5. Preserving wheel alignment is crucial for your Mazda's overall control and tire life. With properly functioning shocks and struts, you can maintain the correct alignment of your wheels, leading to extended tire life and better control on the road.
6. Lastly, shocks and struts help you minimize potential premature wear. By mitigating excessive movement and maintaining optimal suspension performance, they reduce wear and tear not only on your tires but also on other suspension components. This means increased longevity and cost savings to you.

Shocks, also known as shock absorbers, are a crucial component of a Mazda's suspension system. Their primary purpose is to manage the impact and rebound of the Mazda's springs and suspension, ensuring that the tires remain in continuous contact with the road. Furthermore, they play a vital role in absorbing energy to provide you with a smoother ride. Additionally, they play a critical role in absorbing energy to give you a smoother ride.

What Are Shocks?

A shock absorber is made up of important components like a piston, a coil, and hydraulic fluid. When a Mazda wheel encounters a dip, like a pothole or crevice, the shock absorber kicks off a compression cycle. During this cycle, the piston applies pressure to the hydraulic fluid in the upper chamber of the device.

The hydraulic fluid then works to slow down the relaxation of the coil, preventing a super bumpy ride feeling.

By adding shocks to a Mazda's suspension system, drivers can get better control and stability. These parts ensure that the wheels stay in touch with the road, no matter how bad it is. Without shock absorbers, the wheels would bounce off the road surface, causing shaky vibrations, particularly on rough terrains.

Shocks are a crucial part of a Mazda's suspension system, playing a big role in keeping a smooth and comfy ride for drivers and passengers too.

What Are Struts?

Struts play a vital role in the suspension system of most front-wheel-drive Mazdas. They provide the necessary support and stability, ensuring a comfortable ride over bumps, hills, and valleys. Basically, a strut is a combination of various parts like the coil spring, shock absorbers, and steering knuckle, all working together to make your Mazda handle better. They also help with turning smoothly and control the movement of the car. Unlike shocks, which absorb impact, struts play a dual role of supporting the weight of the Mazda and maintaining stability. So, if you're someone who loves pushing your Mazda to its limits, it's crucial to pay attention to your struts to ensure optimal performance and comfort.

When To Replace Them

Knowing when to replace your shocks and struts is crucial for maintaining your Mazda's performance. Here are some telltale signs to watch out for: visible fluid leaks, dented or damaged shocks/struts, and unusual tire wear patterns.

When it comes to how your Mazda handles, if you're experiencing a rough or shaky ride, unresponsive steering, stiffness or noise when steering, or instability during braking, it may be time to swap out your shocks and struts.

Also, consider the mileage. Around 50,000 miles, depending on your Mazda and driving conditions, your shocks and struts may be worn down and in need of replacement.

Keep in mind that worn shocks/struts can accelerate the deterioration of other parts like ball joints, steering linkage, springs, and C.V. joints.

Remember, don't cut corners when it comes to your shocks and struts. Proper functionality of these components is vital for the handling and cornering of your Mazda, ensuring safer driving conditions. So, stay on top of maintenance and replace your shocks and struts when necessary.

Why A Pro Should Do the Job

If you own a Mazda and want to ensure its long-term smooth operation, it's a good idea to have a professional handle the job, from start to finish. Even if you're not familiar with car mechanics or Mazda specifics, taking it in for service is the best option. A skilled mechanic will thoroughly inspect your Mazda for any shocks, struts, or other potential issues. Based on their expertise, they'll take the necessary steps to ensure your vehicle performs at its best. Ignoring these problems can lead to decreased performance and a less comfortable ride. Plus, it compromises safety since the shocks and struts play a crucial role in controlling your car.

If you experience any problems with your wheels, steering, or anything else, it's a good idea to bring your Mazda to Seacoast Mazda. Our team of experts will inspect your entire vehicle to identify any issues. Remember, neglecting shocks and struts problems is not advisable. Fortunately, a thorough inspection at Seacoast Mazda will ensure that your car is back to running at its best, 100%.