Anyone who’s spent a bit of time driving around Hamilton knows how rough some of the roads can get — like bouncing along Kahikatea Drive with a coffee in hand, crawling around Chartwell in heavy rain, or slogging through stop-start traffic down Clyde Street with the sun glaring in. One part of your car that quietly puts in the hard yards through all this is the strut assembly. If it’s not working right, you’ll definitely start to feel every pothole and speed bump, and it could even trip you up at your next WOF Hamilton check.
1. Eyeing Up the Struts
Check Before You’re Let Down
Struts aren’t something most people look at, but believe me, you’ll know when they’re buggered. Next time you’re gliding over the speed humps on Carrington Avenue and something doesn’t feel right, it could be worn struts. One of our techs here at Grimmer Motors will give them a solid check for leaks, corroded bits, or cracks. Sorting problems early means you won’t get that nasty surprise at WOF time and your wallet will thank you. Here’s what can go wrong if you just leave them.
2. Swapping Strut Mounts and Bearings
Fixing Weird Clunks and Knocks
We see plenty of cars — like the occasional Mitsubishi Outlander or Citroen C3 driven in by office workers — with eerie knocks every time they turn onto Hukanui Road. More often than not, dodgy mounts or bearings are the culprits. When that happens, we’ll get the tired ones swapped out so your ride stays smooth and you don’t get those WOF-failing clunks.
3. Shock Absorber Check and Replacement
Stop the Bouncy House Effect
If your Toyota Wish or Ford Transit bounces like a trampoline on those potholes in Melville, chances are the shock absorbers have spat the dummy. It’s super common to see leaks or worn-out shocks in both older and newer cars. A dodgy shock messes with your handling and can easily fail your next WOF. We’ll fit proper replacements to keep your ride calm and cruise-worthy. Check out this guide on spotting worn shocks.
4. Checking Coil Springs
Ride Height All Over the Place?
Every so often, someone brings in a Honda Stepwagon from Tamahere sitting lopsided in the carpark. Classic coil spring problem. If the springs crack or sag, you end up dragging one corner — not great for handling or clearing those steep angled driveways in Te Kowhai. We’ll give your coils the once-over and replace anything that’s looking tired, so you don’t need to crawl over every curb.
5. Replacing Control Arm Bushes
Steering Gone Sloppy or Tyres Wearing Oddly?
It’s not just old Mazdas or Holdens — lately we’ve had a few Toyota Prius and Skoda Octavia drivers from Morrinsville complain the steering feels loose, or the tyres are wearing faster on one edge. Usually the control arm bushes are knackered. If they’re gone, we’ll replace them and get your wheels pointing true again.
6. Ball Joint Check
Keep Control When It Matters
Had a Peugeot 3008 from Ngaruawahia in last week — driver said it was wandering over the Waikato Expressway, felt a bit sketchy at speed. Turned out the ball joints were worn. These things keep your front wheels solid for steering and braking. We always check for wear and swap them out when needed — it’s not worth ignoring. Ball joints really are vital for safe motoring.
7. Dialling in Strut Alignment
Tracking Straight and True
You might notice tyres going bald on one side, or your steering wheel off-centre down Avalon Drive. Sounds like a strut alignment issue. If things are out of whack, you’ll chew through tyres and the car wants to drift off line — not ideal for a WOF or tackling the open road towards Cambridge. We’ll sort the alignment and make sure everything’s straight, improving safety and tyre life.
Why do so many locals trust us for their car service Hamilton or hybrid repair? Simple. We work on everything from Daihatsu Bego to BMW Tourings, use top parts, and the job’s only done when you’re happy. If your car’s due for WOF, or something’s started going clunk or bounce, come in for a yarn. We’ll get you sorted — no dramas.