I have a 2007 Mazda 3 (bought Sep 06) with 18000 miles on it. Went in for an oil change the other day, and while the car was on the lift, the mechanic showed me that the front left tire was extremely worn down – the tread is practically gone in one spot and a seam is opening up at the junction between the tread and the sidewall. He said this was due to bad shocks and I need to have the front shocks and struts replaced. Basically I would like to know whether I can take his word for it. I did some googling and apparently worn tires is a symptom of bad shocks, but can also be caused by poor alignment or balance in the tires.
I called back the mechanic yesterday and asked if they tested independently whether the shocks were bad. He said no, you can’t tell that on its own, but from experience this pattern of wear is caused by bad shocks. If the wheels were out of alignment or unbalanced, the wear would be on both sides rather than one.
Is my mechanic telling the truth? Should I take his word for it or get a second opinion? Frankly I am kind of surprised by this, as I posted the car has only around 18000 miles on it which seems early for the shocks to go. Unfortunately only the powertrain is still under warranty, not the suspension.
Shocks should last far beyond 18K miles, but hey, anything is possible. That said, an alignment or balancing problem would be my first guess. Because you’ve got to replace the tires anyway, I’d purchase them from a shop that also does alignments and have that done, too. Of course, if the alignment is OK (and assuming the technician is honest enough to tell you so), then I’d look toward your suspension.
Oil change places are notorious for finding themselves additional work.:dubious:
At any rate, if you bounce the car and it continues to move, the shocks are shot. Also, if you can see where the oil has leaked out, then they are shot.
You say the tread is practically gone in one spot. Do you mean in a patch of tread surrounded by an area of lesser wear, or in a band around the circumference of the tire? Bald spots on one area of the tire generally mean a bad tire, and this can wear out struts/shocks prematurely. Cupped tread usually means an unbalanced tire, which can also wear out struts fast. Unbalanced tires on the front can usually be felt as shimmy in the steering wheel. Or it can mean a bad strut in the first place. Uneven wear across the tread (say the inside’s worn but the outside isn’t as bad) usually means alignment problems. Worn outside edges on both sides of a tire’s tread means under inflation, and wear in the center of the tire but not on the edges means over inflation. Google “tire wear patterns” for lots more info and pictures.
A decent check for the struts is to bounce the car vigorously by pushing down on the fender over the shock in question. Get the car a’bouncing, and let go. The car should not continue to bounce.
Was it only that one tire that was unusually worn, or were the rest of them pretty much worn down, but that was the only one that was coming apart? Were the others worn evenly?
Without being able to see the car, I’d guess it’s just a bad tire. With only 18k on the car I’m guessing these are still the original tires, and they’re now 5 years old. Depending on your climate, 5 years can be too much for a set of tires, especially the usually quite terrible tires that come on new cars. I’d also be skeptical about shocks going out so soon, although on a car that apparently has done a lot of sitting, maybe. If it were me, I’d probably just throw on a new set of tires and be sure to have them checked for uneven wear at the first rotation.
Also, Mazda 3s are known to be hard on tires. Even if you drive normally, rotate them and maintain proper air pressure, the stock tires will be well worn in 20K or so.
The mileage is low, but who knows how many bumps you have hit. Roads are very poor in my area. It is entirely reasonable to need struts. The tires are worn early and you saw that with your own eyes. You might also hear some noise from the struts. I would expect that if they are badly worn. Also, The front end should bounce easily and not want to stop bouncing when pushed down and release fast. This is hot rocket science. A mechanic or any trained individual could make the diagnosis in less than a minute. Since you admit you are not qualified to know, I suggest trusting the professional.
I feel your pain. Struts are not cheap on that car.
Thanks all for the advice. I took the car to have the tires replaced today (at a tires-only shop, ended up getting all 4 since the rear two were close to the end anyway) and the guy told me based on the wear pattern it was definitely not caused by shocks. I also did the bounce test and the car does not continue to bounce after pressing down on the hood above the wheel. I suppose I should have the alignment checked, it seems I haven’t had it done since I bought the car – I could have sworn I had before, but checking my records I’ve only had the tires balanced, not aligned.
SanDiegoTim, I’m actually in SD. Any recommendations on a mechanic, now that I don’t trust the one who did my oil? UTC/Miramar area is preferable, but I may be willing to go further if they’re good.
The next time your car gets put on a lift, have them raise and lower it slowly to see if the wheel that had the problem is hanging a bit lower than the others. It may not be easy to eyeball, but if that wheel touches the floor before the others, chances are it is a shock/strut problem.
It sounds like it is just an alignment or balance problem. Or, It really could just be a bad tire.
I live in Point Loma and we take our cars to Smitty’s on Adams Ave just west of I-15. Honest as the day is long. It’s a bit of a drive for us, but it’s well worth it. I met the owner (Mike) years ago at the Y. Appointments necessary. They don’t do alignments, but on Adams just east of 805 is the Tire Depot. Same deal. Met the owner (Gary) at the Y many years ago. Used him ever since for tires and alihnments.