What to Expect With a Suspension Service
1. Schedule Your Appointment
Whether scheduling online or over the phone be sure and let us know what you're experiencing so we can provide fast and accurate service advice.
2. Diagnostics and Inspections
Drop off your vehicle and the shop will get to work with inspections and diagnostics using the same equipment as the manufacturers to determine issues and next steps.
3. Digital Vehicle Inspection Report and Estimate
Following the diagnosis we will text you a digital vehicle inspection report, containing pictures and videos of our findings and recommendations.
4. Review and Approval
A service advisor will reach out to walk you through the findings and recommendations to determine how you would like to proceed, or you can approve work directly in your DVI.
5. Work Performed or Scheduled
Most work can be completed immediately, or scheduled based on parts and customer availability.
Did You Know: It takes up to three football fields to safely brake in the rain?
Frequently Asked Questions
How do worn-out shocks and struts negatively impact my vehicle's braking distance?
When your fluid dampeners soften or leak, they lose their ability to control your vehicle's weight transfer during deceleration. Slamming on your brakes causes the vehicle's mass to surge violently forward, unloading weight from the rear tires and breaking their traction loop. This shifting force can extend your emergency highway stopping distance by up to several critical feet.
What is the primary structural difference between car shocks and struts?
Shocks are independent hydraulic dampeners designed solely to control body bounce and absorb road vibrations, whereas struts are a core structural component of your suspension system. Struts combine the internal shock absorber with a heavy coil spring, serving as the physical mounting pivot for your steering assembly and directly dictating your vehicle's overall ride height.
Can a loose suspension component cause my vehicle's tires to wear out prematurely?
Yes, absolutely. Failing ball joints, worn tie rod ends, or deteriorated control arm bushings allow your wheel alignment angles to drift continuously while driving. This drifting movement forces your tires to scrub sideways against the asphalt rather than rolling straight, resulting in rapid, uneven tread destruction that ruins your tires within thousands of miles.
How long do factory steering and dampening parts typically last before failing?
On average, high-quality shocks, struts, and linkage components are engineered to last between 50,000 and 75,000 miles before requiring replacement. However, your exact lifespan depends heavily on local driving conditions; handling deep construction potholes along the Grand Parkway or navigating rough gravel surfaces regularly will accelerate internal seal wear considerably.
Is a professional wheel alignment necessary after replacing undercar components?
Yes, it is highly recommended. Unbolting structural steering components or changing your ride height directly alters your wheel tracking angles, including camber, caster, and toe. Skipping a post-installation alignment will cause immediate steering wheel crookedness, heavy tire scrubbing, and poor tracking safety, which is why our technicians recalibrate your geometry following any chassis repair.
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FAQs
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Q. "How do I know if my suspension needs service?"Signs that your car needs suspension service include braking problems, abnormal noises, and excessive bouncing. If you are experiencing any of these problems, we recommend getting your vehicle looked at by our professional technicians.
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Q. "What is the difference between shocks and struts?"While one of them will be found in every one of your vehicle’s tires, a vehicle will either have a shock or a strut at each wheel, never both. A shock cannot be used to replace a strut and a strut cannot be used to replace a shock. Which one does your vehicle have? Depends on the make and model. Learn more here.
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Q. "How often should I have my suspension system looked at?"We recommend that you have it looked at once a year or every 12,000 miles along with your regular scheduled maintenance. If you want to learn more about signs that your suspension is worn click here.
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Q. "Do you offer a shuttle service?"Yes! we understand you have a full schedule. Whether you need to get to work, school, or need to attend to other responsibilities, we can take you where you need to go. Click here to learn more.
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Q. "Do you offer a warranty?"As part of our Nice difference.® commitment to providing our customers the best auto service experience possible, we also offer a 3-year/36,000-mile warranty on all the work that we do. We offer this warranty at every Christian Brothers Automotive nationwide, and it will be honored at any location, regardless of which branch did the initial work.
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Q. "Can you provide service under my extended warranty?"Yes. At Christian Brothers Automotive, we work with all major extended warranty providers to make needed repairs for our customers. If you have an extended warranty, you can discuss your carrier with our team when scheduling an appointment and confirm that the work will be covered. You can find a partial list of the extended warranty companies we work with here.
Have more Questions?
Our friendly auto service experts have the answers.
Call your local Christian Brothers Automotive car shop today
Hear What Our Customers Had to Say About Us
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"I liked the customer service and going above and beyond to make sure I was comfortable while waiting in the store for my vehicle work to be done, specifically being offered a nice hot coffee with creamer."
- J.L.