Chrysler T&C preventative shocks/struts?

[badtlc]

Hello everyone.

My T&C is around 108k miles on the odometer. I'm planning on keeping this thing until 250k or more assuming I can avoid major issues with it over that time. I am getting ready to put new tires on it this fall and will do an alignment afterwards. I figured since I will be doing an alignment, maybe it might be a good time to replace all the shocks/struts. Is that a good idea or is it way too early for that? Should I just wait for them to fail?

I know shocks can leak and that is when a lot of times they get replaced. Is there any other reason to replace them? Does their performance change any with age even if they are not leaking?

 

[Astro14]

It would depend on how they perform right now...short of a leak, shocks wear with use, not age, per se.

So, shocks that go 50,000 miles on rough, unpaved roads are toast, while the same shocks on smooth highways are barely worn.

That said, the degradation in ride as shocks wear is subtle and slow. By 100,000 miles, even on smooth roads, they’re worn, and you’ll see an improvement from a set of good, not cheap, shocks and struts.

 

[badtlc]

It would depend on how they perform right now...short of a leak, shocks wear with use, not age, per se.

So, shocks that go 50,000 miles on rough, unpaved roads are toast, while the same shocks on smooth highways are barely worn.

That said, the degradation in ride as shocks wear is subtle and slow. By 100,000 miles, even on smooth roads, they’re worn, and you’ll see an improvement from a set of good, not cheap, shocks and struts.

I was just going to do OEM as the dealer is where I go to get alignments and I have had no complaints with the current ones. They do seem to be a bit softer than original but the change is so slow it is hard to know for sure. They have mostly been highway miles but we do have many railroad crossings that the van sees daily that are not smooth and easy.

I wish there was a test so that shops could easily test them and say "yeah, they are a lot softer than original" or "they still have the same response so they are good."

 

[SeaJay]

I always waited until my trusted indy would tell me at annual mandatory safety inspection time (back when I lived in NY) that I needed those parts to be replaced now.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

100k isn't much, and since your car is so new, they're probably mostly easy highway miles.

If you do need new shocks, KYB makes quick struts for your 2015 Town and Country