Bouncy Ride in Hillsboro, KS
The short answer
A bouncy, floaty ride usually means the shocks or struts are worn out, so the springs keep bouncing after every bump instead of settling.
You feel it on the gravel road south of town, when the truck dips at the creek bridge and keeps bobbing like a boat for a few seconds afterward. Shocks wear so slowly that most people get used to it, but they also help the tires grip and the brakes stop. Bring it in, or we will come and get it.
Call or text (620) 416-0008. Describe the noise. We'll do the rest.
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Bounce, decoded
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Text us which onesHow we fix a bouncy ride at Moxie
We check the whole suspension, not just the shocks. Worn mounts, bushings and springs can all add to a bouncy ride, and replacing shocks alone will not fix those.
We replace shocks and struts in pairs. Matching both sides keeps the vehicle level and stable, and we tell you plainly if the other end can wait.
We check the alignment after strut work. Struts hold the wheels in place, so changing them can shift the alignment, and we set it on our Hunter equipment.
Then we drive the same bumps. It has to settle after a dip and stop without diving, and you approve every repair before we start.
Why Hillsboro brings a bouncy ride to Moxie
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Hunter alignment equipment
Strut work can shift the alignment, so we set it accurately afterward.
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Warranty good at over 17,000 shops
Suspension repairs carry the NAPA nationwide warranty for 24 months or 24,000 miles.
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An ASE-certified technician
Our technician is ASE certified in engine repair, automatic transmissions and drivetrains, and Moxie pays for ASE testing for the whole team.
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We come and get it
Free pickup and delivery within 40 road miles of the shop, which covers Newton, Hesston and McPherson.
Call or text (620) 416-0008. Describe the noise. We'll do the rest.
Bouncy ride myths we hear at the counter
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Sounds like yours? Tell us what it is doing and we will tell you straight.
Can I keep driving?
Yes, gently, but slow down on rough roads.
Worn shocks are rarely a sudden danger, so you can usually drive it while you book a visit. They do make the vehicle less steady in a hard stop, a sharp turn or on a rough road, and they wear your tires faster the longer they go on. Take bumps and corners slower until they are fixed.
Stop driving and call us if
- You hear a clunk or bang from a corner
- One corner suddenly sits lower than the others
- The vehicle feels hard to control over bumps
- The steering shimmies or feels loose
- Oil is running down a shock or strut
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What makes a ride bouncy around here
- Miles of washboard gravel roads across Marion, Harvey, McPherson, Chase and Lyon Counties, which wear shocks and struts faster than pavement
- Potholes after the spring thaw that hit the suspension hard
- Hauling and towing, which work the rear shocks hard
- Age, as the fluid and seals inside shocks slowly wear out
- Worn strut mounts and bushings that let the suspension move too much
- Tired springs that let the vehicle sag and bounce
How we diagnose a bouncy ride in Hillsboro
- We ask how it rides and whether it changed slowly or suddenly.
- We road-test it over bumps and dips and in a firm stop.
- We inspect each shock and strut for leaks, damage and worn mounts.
- We check the springs, bushings and tires for wear that goes with worn shocks.
- Then we show you what we found and tell you what can wait.
A bouncy ride across five Kansas counties
We look after drivers across Marion County, Harvey County, McPherson County, Chase County and Lyon County, with free pickup and delivery within 40 road miles of 611 Orchard Dr, Hillsboro.
Bouncy ride questions we hear every week
How do I know if my shocks are worn out?
The biggest clue is a vehicle that keeps bouncing after a bump instead of settling at once. Nose diving in a stop, swaying in corners and patchy tire wear are the others. We can check them on a road test and a quick look underneath.
What is the difference between shocks and struts?
Both calm the bounce of the springs. A strut also holds up part of the vehicle and helps position the wheel, so replacing one usually means an alignment afterward. Many vehicles have struts at the front and shocks at the back.
Is a bouncy ride really a safety issue?
It can be, because worn shocks let the tires bounce off the road, which means less grip when you brake or turn. It is not usually urgent, but it is worth fixing before it wears out your tires too.