The shock absorbers in your car help to ensure a good grip on the roads and drastically reduce the impact of road shocks. The shock absorbers are made up of a set of parts, including the shock absorber cups or strut mounts.
They are also called strut mounts or known as a shock head or suspension kit.They are attached to the body of the car, thereby connecting the body to the suspension or shock rod. They consist of a rubber stopper, a ring and a metal part making the junction with the body.
β How to tell if the strut mounts are faulty?
Several symptoms can indicate that the strut mounts are damaged:
- Metallic clicks
- Squeaking noise when turning the steering wheel
- Sound of repeated shocks
π§ How to test a strut mount
Checking that the strut mounts are functioning properly is fairly straightforward. Here's how to test a strut mount in just a few steps:
- Stop the car and pull the handbrake.
- Chock the wheels of your car.
- Tap one of the 4 corners of your car. If after releasing the pressure, the car wobbles several times, it is likely that the strut mounts are not working correctly.
βοΈ Strut mounts and MOT
The shock absorbers ensure that your car has a good grip on the road. If the strut mounts are severely damaged, it could be considered as a major failure during the MOT and you may need to go through a second inspection.
π When to change the strut mounts?
You will need to replace your car's strut mounts on a regular basis. In general, the change should be done in pairs and every 100,000 km.
πΈ Price of changing the strut mounts
Typically, changing a pair of strut Mounts doesnβt take more than an hour. The price of changing the cups will generally cost between Β£85 and Β£250, depending on the quality of the parts, as well as the hourly rate of the garage.