Can You Drive with a Broken Shock Mount? Symptoms and Fixes

The shock mount is an integral component of the suspension system, a functioning shock mount is key to the smooth operation of a vehicle. It has been designed to ensure that the steering works properly without stopping or being compromised during operation. The shock mount also plays a partial function in preventing the tires and some parts of the suspension system from wearing prematurely. The shock mount can cause serious problems to your vehicle when it begins to develop faults. 

Suspension anomalies highlights

• Level of importance:medium
• Common reasons:all kinds of suspension problems
• DIY inspection:possible but complicated
• DIY repair:impossible
• Average price in shops:$250 - $800
• Average time:1 - 8 hours
• If ignored:suspension fatal failure, no-drive

Although the experience of driving a broken shock mount can be very challenging, you can still drive your car in such condition. Unless it has completely broken down, the condition of a worn shock mount is normally manageable in the early stages but you should fix or replace it as soon as possible. 

You must note that there is a difference between the shock mount and strut mount. The two components are confusedly used because they are part of the suspension system. While the strut mount is built into the structure of the suspension system, the shock mount connects the two parts of the suspension system. Thus, the strut mount carries the weight of the vehicle and not the shock mount.

Symptoms of a broken shock mount

The most common symptom of a broken shock mount is noise and binding. Other symptoms you may experience include the following:

• poor control of the vehicle
• uneven wear of the tires
• Intense vibrations at high speed
• the steering wheel becomes hard to turn
• difficulty in controlling the steering wheel
• clanking noise when turning the steering wheel
• steering binding

What happens when your vehicle experiences a broken shock mount?

The shock mount wears overtime just like many other components of the car. Once it begins to wear, your vehicle won't be able to perform at its best. The likely solution may require that you repair the worn-out part or replace the shock mount completely for maximum performance. If you decide to delay the fixing of the worn shocks, you may jeopardize the ability to control and maintain the stability of your car. Driving a car with a broken shock mount can lead to several consequences ranging from severe to critical conditions. Some of the consequences are highlighted below:

1) Brakes become almost inefficient

A broken shock mount will have a direct effect on the efficiency of your car brakes. This condition makes your car stop at distances and this increases incessantly until the shocks are fixed. An emergency braking situation is a red flag in the operation of your vehicle and it can expose you to a series of critical conditions including a high risk of skidding on wet roads. For the sake of your safety, don't allow your shock mount to wear before you get it inspected.

2) Tire wear

Wearing of tires is not a normal condition for your vehicle and it can cause your shock mount to develop faults. If your tires show signs they are wearing, then there will be a decline in the ability of your shock mount to maintain tire-to-road contact. Tire wearing is a safety issue, especially on wet roads and you may bear the risk of hydroplaning. Replacing the tires alone will not solve the problem as you are only fixing the symptom rather than the problem, you should contact a car repair service to inspect the shock mount as well as the entire suspension system.

3) Loss of control in the handling of your vehicle

A broken shock mount affects the handling of the vehicle. You will begin to experience control issues with your vehicle and the inability to maintain stability when turning the steering. You will also notice that your vehicle bounces without control and sways abruptly when turning the car. If you continue driving your car in this condition, the shock mount will lose its ability to control weight transfer and this will make you feel like you have no control of your car, in worst cases, you may not be able to control your car when it is hit by a crosswind.

4) Wearing of the other parts of the suspension system

If the worn shocks are not fixed on time, the wear will increase over time and this negatively affects the steering, brakes, and other components of the suspension system. The increased wear causes the other components of the suspension system to wear faster, and this will increase your repair expenses.

How to fix a broken shock mount

The general idea is that a broken shock mount be replaced entirely, however, a broken shock mount doesn't necessarily mean it is beyond repair. The issue may not be severe and only require minor fixes which you can do easily. And yes! fixing a faulty shock mount can be a DIY project, any DIY enthusiast can do this, you only need to understand the process. The processes are explained below.

1) Disassemble

The first step is to dissemble all the parts required and connected to the shock mount. You must have the dissembling kit before you begin this process. Lift the car with the car jacks and then dissemble every part that needs dissembling from the shock mount. After doing this, use the dissembling kit to remove the shock mount from the car.

2) Clean the shock mount 

The shock mount is the most exposed part of the suspension component, it is quite visible from a close position, this is why it is venerable to dust and can quickly be filled with clogs. In some cases, a simple cleaning of the shock mount can fix the problem and also save your car from further potential issues. Clean the shock mount thoroughly by using a brush to clear the clogs, ensure you touch every hidden corner of the shock mount for proper cleaning.

3) Identify the problem with the shock mount

This is the most important part of the process. Inspect the shock mount for cracks and holes. However, ensure you have cleaned the shock mount correctly before you begin this step.

4) Fix the faulty part of the shock mount

Now you have to fix the faulty parts that you have identified. You can just replace the specific faulty part instead of changing the whole shock mount in such a case. You can always get the spare parts in the market. For instance, if a part of the shock mounting is leaking, you can just buy a leak fix to fix the leak instead of replacing the part.

5) Reassemble 

After cleaning and fixing the shock mount, the next step is to reassemble the parts that have been disconnected. Ensure you tighten the parts properly as you reassemble them. Then use the jack to lower the vehicle. 

6) Test the vehicle 

After reassembling the parts, the last step is to test the performance of the vehicle. The essence of this step is to differentiate between the previous and current performance of the vehicle. If the car is working fine and better now, then you have done a successful job.

If you can't fix the broken shock mount yourself, don't hesitate to contact a mechanic to help you fix it. Also, if the condition of the faulty shock mount is beyond repair, you will have no choice but to replace the entire shock mount. But try to get the best shock mount in the market. A cheap shock mount may fix the issue temporarily but it may develop fault quickly and you will have to deal with the problem again and make fresh expenses.

How to maintain your shock mount

Maintaining the shock mount is as important as every other component of the vehicle because a functioning shock mount ensures a safe and smooth ride on the road. Below are some tips on how you can keep your shock mount in good condition:

1) Inspect the suspension system regularly

Make sure you always check for signs of damage on the suspension system such as damaged oil springs, worn shocks, etc.

2) Take your car to the service shop for regular maintenance

This is very helpful in identifying possible issues on the shock mount before they become severe.

3) Fix any issue on the shock immediately

When it comes to the shock mount, any small issue can become serious if ignored. Therefore, fix any problem no matter how small before it becomes a bigger problem.

4) Avoid car overload

Car overload can stress the suspension system and this can directly damage the shock mount.

Wrapping up

The shock mount is very essential for a smooth and comfortable ride. However, it is very delicate, ensure you do regular maintenance so you can easily identify possible issues and symptoms highlighted in this article. Remember that when it comes to the shock mount never hesitate to fix any problem as soon as possible. And if it is a minor issue, DIY enthusiasts can easily fix the problems with the steps highlighted in this article. I hope you now have an idea of how to deal with a broken shock mount.