Hyundai Santa Fe Shocks and Struts
Shocks and struts are an important part of your Hyundai Santa Fes suspension system as they not only give you and your passengers a comfortable ride but they are also involved in ride control. Replacing the Hyundai Santa Fe shocks and struts is an important component in preventive maintenance and can help preserve tires and brakes. When the time comes to replace shocks and struts, vehicle owners often choose OEM parts or those from high-quality manufacturers such as Monroe.
What is the difference between shocks and struts?Shocks and struts perform similar functions on your vehicle as they are both parts of the overall suspension and help absorb oscillation and bounce. Each tire will have either a shock or a strut attached to it but not both. Struts may be characterized as a complete suspension assembly as they and their mounts are a structural part of the suspension while shocks are not. They also help maintain control during handling while shocks do not.
What is the strut assembly for the Hyundai Santa Fe?You have access to individual struts and shocks or you can acquire what is commonly referred to as a strut assembly for your vehicle. Monroe, for example, manufactures what it calls a Quick-Strut unit that includes all components necessary for assembly replacement, including mounts and springs. These units include optimized valving that is manufactured to work optimally with each vehicles ride and handling characteristics. Typical components include the following:
- Pre-assembled upper mounts
- Bearing plates
- Upper spring seat and coil spring
- Spring assemblies
- Boot kit
- Premium struts
Hyundais recommended maintenance schedule does not list a specific mileage for replacement of struts and shocks on the Santa Fe, although the owners manual calls for inspection of the suspension beginning at 60,000 miles. By performing regular preventive maintenance, however, you should be able to replace shocks and struts before they wear out completely. Look for these warning signs while driving that indicate its time to replace:
- Tire cupping
- Excessive bouncing
- Nose diving when you brake and other loss of control or handling
- Leaking hydraulic fluid
Replacing the Hyundai Santa Fe shocks and struts is one of the easier vehicle maintenance jobs to perform. These components should always be replaced in pairs to maintain balance in your vehicle. When repairing the Santa Fes shocks and struts, make sure you buy original OEM parts or quality aftermarket parts.