As a shop owner, you’ve got plenty to manage, including the expectations of what your technicians are looking for on a daily basis. Likely, the majority of cars coming into your shop have some sort of mechanical failure or are due for routine maintenance. It’s obvious when tires and brakes wear out or the car is not running correctly, but are you missing an opportunity by not inspecting the vehicle’s ride control system for wear at the same time?
Most technicians know that replacing shocks and struts is worth doing at some point in a vehicle’s lifetime, but may not know when or how to suggest new dampers. They likely never check a shock’s performance beyond a simple visual inspection. Maybe that’s why so many vehicles in the junkyard still have their original suspension components installed, and that’s a missed opportunity for your business.
To help, KYB has developed a simple road test called the 3 Minute Mile that can help determine the level of performance of a vehicle’s suspension.
The maneuvers recommended in the 3 Minute Mile can measure the level of ride control component wear on customer’s vehicles. Customers may not notice the harshness over bumps, extended stopping distances, excessive body roll, and lack of steering response since shocks and struts wear gradually. Many drivers won’t realize how they’ve adapted their driving style to compensate for worn suspension. They may be subconsciously driving over bumps differently to avoid harshness or rattling components, changing their braking points to account for more nosedive, or other behaviors that compensate for worn suspension components.
Determining wear on suspension components through a road test can help you start a ride control replacement conversation with customers. Instead of only replacing leaking or broken shocks, try asking customers if their vehicle is performing the way it did when it was new. An easy and quick road test can get them thinking and taking an honest approach to their vehicle’s performance and can help them drive a safer vehicle.
If the shocks, struts, and springs are worn, the electronic safety systems won’t be performing like they were designed, and their calibration could be off due to worn springs and bushings. Basic and advanced safety systems like ESC, ABS, and ADAS rely on the mechanical components like tires, brakes, and suspension components to be functioning properly. Worn suspension means the vehicle won’t be as responsive to driver inputs, and the systems built to assist drivers and add safety will be compromised. Customers could be leaving your shop in an unsafe vehicle if shocks and struts are ignored.
Remember that all four corners will likely need attention. Installing just the front or rear suspension components will only accentuate how worn the rest of the suspension is, and that’s something your customer will immediately notice. Installing high quality suspension components on all four corners of a vehicle can bring back control and driver confidence, plus it can add to customer satisfaction with your shop.
KYB OE replacement shocks and struts are engineered to help restore a vehicle’s original designed ride control and compensate for other worn suspension components. Excel-G and Strut-Plus are well known for being the right OE replacement choice for many of your customers. KYB’s Gas-a-Just and MonoMax product lines are monotube upgrades that can increase handling and control, especially in demanding conditions. Pairing quality shocks and struts with new brakes, and/or new tires, can really help bring a vehicle back to life. It’s a great strategy to make a vehicle much safer. Having the confidence to start a ride control conversation with your customers can help them protect their investment and enjoy driving their vehicle again.
Have your technicians perform the 3 Minute Mile on each vehicle in your shop. Show some love to the vehicle’s four corners, and your customers will enjoy the road in a safer and more responsive vehicle. Love the corners.
This Article is Sponsored By: KYB
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