When the front end dives every time you brake, the front struts are usually worn. We replace them where your car is parked and quote the job before any work starts.

Call 817-709-1357 Text us Request a work order

Call hours: Mon to Fri 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM · Sat 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Shocks and struts in Roanoke

Why the front end dips when you brake

Braking shifts weight toward the front of the car. Healthy front struts slow that shift down, so the nose dips a little and stays level enough for the front tires to bite. Worn struts let the weight rush forward. The nose drops hard, the rear lifts, and the back tires lose some of their grip.

The same thing happens in reverse when you accelerate. The rear squats and the front rises, which is easy to notice in a loaded SUV or pickup. You may also feel the car rock back after a firm stop. We can tell whether the dive comes from the struts or from something else in the front end, such as worn control arm bushings.

Quick facts

Where

Your home, work or roadside in Roanoke

Price

Given before any work starts

Call hours

Mon to Fri 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM · Sat 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Reach us

Call or text 817-709-1357

Warning signs

Signs the front struts are letting the nose drop

Hard nose dive

The hood drops sharply under normal braking and you feel pitched forward.

Rear squat

The back end sinks and the front lifts when you pull away briskly.

Rocking after stops

The body sways back and forth once the car comes to rest.

Light rear end

The back of the car feels loose or twitchy during a hard stop.

Clunk when braking

A knock from the front can point to a worn strut mount.

Engine work in progress under the hood of a truck

Why Day's

Shop-level work, where you park.

We bring dealer-level diagnostic tools, including a lab scope and a thermal camera, to wherever your vehicle is parked.

Fords are our specialty, built on years of maintaining a construction company's fleet, from cars and light trucks to heavy-duty work trucks.

About Day's

See us on Google

How it works

From the first call to the finished repair

Describe what the car does when you brake, by phone or by text. We come to your home or work in Roanoke, check the struts, mounts and front bushings, and look at the brakes while we are there. Since we also do brake repair, we can sort out whether the issue is suspension, brakes or both.

We quote the job before touching anything. Front strut replacement is usually booked as its own appointment, and we do it right where the car is parked. Afterward, take a few firm stops of your own and the change is easy to feel.

Questions

Shocks and struts questions from Roanoke.

Can worn struts make my brakes feel weak?

They can. The brakes themselves may be fine, but if the weight dumps forward and the rear tires lose grip, the car takes longer to stop and feels less planted. We can check both the brakes and the struts on the same visit. Call or text to set it up.

Is nose dive normal on some cars?

Every car dips a little under braking, and softer family cars dip more than sporty ones. The warning sign is a change. If the nose drops more than it used to, or the car rocks after stopping, the struts are probably worn. Text us and we will check it.

What else can cause the front end to dip?

Worn control arm bushings and tired front springs can both add to it, and a brake that grabs on one side can make the nose dip unevenly. We check those parts along with the struts before quoting anything. Text us to set up a visit.

Should I replace the struts or the brakes first?

If both are worn, the struts often come first because they decide how well the tires stay planted when you brake. Grinding noises or a soft pedal need attention right away, though. We can look at both and give you a price for each. Call or text to start.

Around Roanoke

When nose dive needs attention

Treat strong nose dive as a safety issue. The car needs more room to stop and is harder to keep straight in a panic stop, and the problem grows slowly enough to go unnoticed. Call when braking feels different, and mention any noise from the front. Once front struts go in, plan to have the alignment done at an alignment shop.