Loose Strut Sounds: What They Mean and How to Fix Them

When you hear a loose strut sounds, a clunking, knocking, or rattling noise coming from your car’s suspension when driving over bumps or rough roads. Also known as suspension knock, it’s not just annoying—it’s a warning that your car’s ability to absorb shocks is failing. Struts are part of your suspension system, combining a shock absorber and a spring into one unit. They keep your tires on the road, help with steering control, and reduce bounce after hitting a pothole. When they wear out or become loose, that noise you hear is the metal parts rattling inside, or the mount failing to hold everything tight.

This isn’t just about comfort. A bad strut affects your brakes, your tires, and even your engine. Suspension problems, like worn struts or damaged mounts. Also known as shock absorber failure, they cause your car to dip forward when braking, which puts extra stress on your brake pads and rotors. Your tires wear unevenly—often on the inside or outside edges—because the wheel isn’t staying flat on the ground. And yes, car suspension, the system that connects your wheels to the frame and absorbs road impacts. Also known as vehicle suspension, it’s designed to work as a team. When one part fails, others get overloaded. That’s why you can’t ignore a strange noise. It’s not just the strut. It’s the whole system starting to break down.

You don’t need a mechanic to spot early signs. Try the bounce test: push down hard on one corner of your car and let go. If it bounces more than once, your struts are worn. Look for oil leaking from the strut body—that’s a dead giveaway. Check the rubber mounts at the top for cracks or crumbling. And pay attention to how your car feels: does it sway more than usual on highways? Does it feel like it’s floating over bumps? Those are clues.

Replacing a strut isn’t a weekend job for most people, but knowing what’s wrong saves you money. Some shops try to sell you new struts when you only need new mounts. Others ignore the fact that struts usually come in pairs—you shouldn’t replace just one side. And if you’ve got bad struts, your tires might be worn out too. That’s why checking everything together matters.

The posts below give you real, step-by-step ways to diagnose these issues. You’ll find guides on how to test your suspension, what parts to replace along with struts, and how bad suspension can actually hurt your engine. No fluff. No theory. Just what works on UK roads, with real examples and clear steps. If you’re hearing those clunks, you’re not alone—and you don’t have to guess what’s wrong anymore.