A design innovation from the 1950’s, car struts were developed by Ford’s Earl MacPherson and have since been known interchangeably as ‘MacPherson struts’. The 1951 Ford Zephyr was the first mass-produced car to sport front struts, which lightened the overall weight of the suspension and providing better steering and handling by dropping the mass of the bottom point in the suspension.

But rather than a distinct and single part, the strut is actually an integrated assembly of components that handle the support and suspension of the vehicle together – often at the critical front end. The strut holds up the great weight of the engine and provides a smooth response to any irregularities in the road. It’s equipped with an internal shock absorber to dampen the rebound force of the spring under weight, preventing the car from effectively throwing itself off the road.

The entire assembly is structurally integrated into the overall car, as it connects the upper bearing to a ball joint below. This allows the wheel assembly to pivot when the steering is activated. But although it was originally hailed as a masterpiece of simplicity in addressing complex mechanical problems, the integrated nature of the strut can cause just as many problems when the time comes for servicing.

And servicing it will need, as it takes the lion’s share of the force involved in the bumps and bashes of driving. Try to have your struts checked at least annually by a qualified mechanic – doing it yourself can be seriously risky unless you have plenty of experience working as a mechanic. Some websites offer illustrated guides that can be helpful, but it’s also recommended to combine strut checks with wheel alignments, which you definitely can’t do at home!

Small repairs may be made by mechanics who will replace the elements around the spring using a specialized tool called a spring compressor. But more often, for convenience and for more comprehensive repairs, they’ll replace the entire setup. New strut suspension units are designed to wear out, as do the shocks, making replacement a safer and more convenient bet. The advantage is also keenly felt in savings on labor in the quality of your ride.

As for signs that your struts are wearing out, unfortunately, it can be difficult to notice the differences in handling as the carriage elements of your struts wear down. However, some things to watch out for include:

* Bouncing excessively
* Bottoming out
* Unusual rocking
* Drifting or weaving on the road
* Nose-diving action
* Rocking and side-swaying

If these signs do pop up and you realize it’s time for service, be prepared for several other problems to be ‘outed’ in the process. Worn strut elements usually go hand in hand with other parts of your suspension and steering assembly. Because elements of the struts involve plenty of work to take apart and replace, it’s often a good idea to replace not only the strut assembly, but other suspension elements, such as the coil springs, in order to save on labor in the long run.