Driving With Bad Struts – Steps, Dangers, How to Fix
Are you having trouble with your car struts? Do you want to know if you can drive during worn out struts, keep reading to find out?
A strut is basically compound of the suspension system in the car. It connects the car with the wheels. But it is not likely that all cars have struts. Some cars have struts in only the front pair of wheels. While others use springs and stun. Components that get damaged because of worn-out struts are tires, transmission system, and engine. The struts are a major part of the tires of the front end of the suspension.
If they are worn out your whole suspension can get damaged. Worn out struts also bring pressure and stress to your transmission. The engine eventually loses its function due to bad struts misaligned suspension causes internal damage in the engine.
If you have a high end branded car with bad struts then it is a huge risk to drive around still as it can be really costly to get replacement parts for cars like an SUV or any Mercedes car for the fact, it can be a huge risk if some part wears out because of these worn-out struts.
Symptoms of Bad Struts
If you experience any of these symptoms, it means you have bad struts:
- Noises of bumps during driving
- Rough uneasy ride
- Uneven tires
- Floating rear end
- a lot of effort applied on the steering to drive.
Now comes the question of whether it is possible to drive having bad struts? If yes, then how?
Steps “how Driving With Bad Struts possible and when not”
Yes, it is possible to drive having bad struts. A vehicle with worn-out struts can still work and ride you here and there, but you have to be really cautious and vigilant.
It will obviously be a bumpy ride, but you can drive in a car with bad struts. You will face certain circumstances while driving with bad struts that you will think it’s best to get them repaired. Instead of driving around with them.
As they are really uncomfortable and make the whole suspension weak. Steps of guiding you on how to drive your car with bad struts are:
Step 1
Acceleration is a very important part of driving with bad struts. If you accelerate your car more vigilantly while driving and while coming to a stop, then you will not experience a headache because of the noises, the struts make when worn out.
You can take the measure from this issue by slowly and smoothly riding your car, not in a rush. Accelerating your wheels fast you will damage not only the suspension system but also the rear end.
Step 2
From acceleration comes the topic of the braking system. Due to worn out struts, a lot of weak noises start coming out of the car if brakes are applied in a harsh and fast way. If you gently apply brakes and not come to rest in a rush, you can avoid such circumstances.
Bad struts cause the rear end to rise too while driving and that is really dangerous. You have to be careful about this and avoid sudden brakes.
The braking system is really sensitive to bad struts; you can’t ignore to fix it before they stop working. Otherwise, you won’t be able to make a stop once you start driving.
Step 3
While you are taking turns on the road and driving around the corners. It can be a disaster if you drive steep and not care much with bad struts. Bad struts can cause your car to lean on the other opposite end, which can lead the car to topple over.
This can be a serious threat to your safety. You have to make sure to drive safe and careful if you have bad struts.
Step 4
With worn out struts this is really important for you to avoid riding over bumps and hard debris. You will have to make sure to ride from the sides and make through those bumps and hard rocks etc. because otherwise, your car will shake in a very bad way.
You can even stop in the middle of the road because of this, which will only cause more trouble. So you have to work hard driving your way through bad struts when the roads are uneven.
Read Also: How to Replace Shocks and Struts
Dangers of bad struts while driving
Wheels: The first thing that gets affected by bad struts is the wheels as we already discussed. Bad struts while driving can cause the wheels to either break down or cause a flat tire. Wheels and tires are part of the suspension system.
It will destroy your wheels and can cause a huge accident if you are driving with bad struts because sometimes while you are driving and the tires break down, you can crash in some barrier or another vehicle.
Until the wheel fails completely, you don’t get to know it will turn out like this either. It can be a chaos situation if you don’t completely inspect your car or fix it before leaving in a car with bad struts.
Shock absorber:
If the shock absorbers of your car are out of motion it will start jolting here and there causing the shock absorber to roll over etc. your ride will obviously get affected then and cause your car to ride uncomfortably.
You will not have control over your car then. In the long run, driving with bad struts will cause your shock absorber to get damaged in return completely your car will also get completely damaged.
You will have to avoid high speeds for this and very slow turns while driving through corners or road stops. After that, you will also have to get your whole shock absorber replaced and fix the struts as well to avoid accidents or complete damage to your car.
Broken spring:
Just like all other parts react to bad struts while driving your springs in the car will also react and break down as well. The collapse of your springs will be a very bad thing for your vehicle as it will make it jolt here and there the whole ride will get rough as well.
Due to the contact, it will be possible that in no time your tires will also get punctured and come out of the vehicle, causing it to crash somewhere. This is a very dangerous part of driving with bad struts so it should be avoided and replace the struts in the first place.
Your car is not secure at all while driving with bad struts. It is possible, but not safe.
Damaged power steering:
You have obviously either electric or hydraulic press in your steering. If either one of it fails, it will still be possible to steer and drive but will be such a pain that you will think that it’s best not to drive at all.
The whole steering will get stuck numerous times while you want to sway it sideways; you will have to apply pressure, and it will be a hefty job. You will have to be slow speed and vigilant. All your strength will be taken away while driving around with a failed steering wheel and you will regret not replacing the struts in the first place.
Broken sway bar:
It is a part of suspension damage. Sway bar functions when the vehicle is cornering to a certain side to take a turn. Broken sway bar can make it really difficult for you to take turns, and it will damage the ability to take turns in the long run.
It is not really unsafe to drive with a broken sway bar, but it is also not an easy job. Your emergency will be compromised that if you want to get somewhere sooner, you will obviously get late. As you will have to drive really slowly and carefully.
Broken joints:
Bad struts cause your car’s joints to break down. Vibration is the enemy of car and its joints. Due to bad struts, your car will shake and jolt. Causing your joints to get either weak or broken.
So much of this shaking will cause wear down of joints and in return a very bad ride. You will have to replace all joints and struts to get your car moving smooth. This will also get expensive. Dangers include the explosion of the engine or heating up the engine.
Your car can stop in the middle of nowhere. The mechanic will also charge a lot to come to a place where your breaks down because of burnt joints.
How to fix bad struts
- First of all, get to know which part is causing these struts to be worn out.
- You will accordingly then buy new replacements such as new springs, struts, and bearing plate, etc. the assemblies will cost more than the strut, but it is necessary to replace them that’s why you need to buy them.
- Then you will measure the camber angle. For replacing the struts, a lot of components will have to be dismantled.
- You will then disconnect the stabilizer bar end link and push it out of the strut hole. Then disconnect the wheel speed sensor, wiring and put it aside.
- Then you will loosen the bolts or nuts. You will first loosen them and then remove them out with a strong hand. Push the knuckle of the steering in and take out the bolts.
- Then the strut and knuckle will get separated.
- Remove the strut mounts now. You have to prevent damaging the CV boot while removing the strut mount nuts located in the strut area of course.
- Now is the time to remove the strut. You will reach out to the good wheel to wiggle out the last strut nut. You will tilt it out towards you then lower it until the area is cleared. Then remove the strut.
- Install the new strut now, and it is a very tricky job. It is the opposite of removing old struts. For the installation you need someone to help you hold things etc. while you get the nuts started, you will push everything in including the knuckle and strut flange. Then align them to put in the bolt. Tighten them and reattach angle gauge. Reinstall stabilizer bar and other parts which were taken out before.
- You will not have to take the car to a mechanic to get it professionally aligned. All the major process will be done by you, but the least expensive and most important part is to immediately get it inspected if you did the job successfully or not. As well as get it aligned not to lose function in the future so easily.
Real alignment from a pro is something else which you can’t do at home without a professional. This should also be done the next day or within two days, not after months of doing it yourself.
Final Thoughts
It is possible to drive with bad struts as we all know now and how to drive as well. A danger of driving with bad struts is also discussed deeply in detail. The whole pack of information is given. It is our job now to ensure our own wellbeing as well as our vehicles.
How to avoid serious dangers and damages is also mentioned. A good high-quality car repair kit should be present in your garage to help fix bad struts that cause all of these damages mentioned, and it is not only unsafe for your car to drive around with bad struts but for your own self as well.
Bad struts cause permanent damage to a car’s part or parts altogether as well. It is necessary for you to know how to fix these bad boys and also help maintain your car’s interior and exterior both for a graceful aging and fewer expenses for maintenance.
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