How to Tell When a Chevy Venture Needs New Shocks
The Chevy Venture, like most minivans, uses MacPherson strut assemblies in the front suspension and shock absorbers for the rear suspension. If you have 50,000 miles or more on your odometer and have never replaced the shocks or struts, this would be the time. Shocks and struts take a tremendous beating (depending on what kinds of roads the Venture is driven on) and wear out slowly. Because of this, the primary driver of the Venture adapts to the slight changes going on with the suspension as time passes. Diagnosing whether the suspension is bad or not is something most people don't consider unless there is a prominent noise or the vehicle suddenly handles differently. Shocks and struts should be inspected with every service. and if you're experiencing symptoms on your Chevy Venture, don't wait. Shock and strut failure can lead to other more expensive repairs on the tires and suspension components of the Venture.
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Instructions
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Test drive the Venture (down a bumpy road if available). Signs to be looking for during a test drive is excessive bounce or sway when going over bumps. A clunking noise would indicate the shock or strut may be bottoming out and not rebounding properly. Take some tight curves with the Venture to feel the sway control. If it feels uncomfortable, as if it might tip without braking, the suspension could be very weak. Step on the brakes hard to come to an abrupt stop (without squealing the tires). Check for excessive rocking back and forth or longer stopping response. Either could be an indication of weakened shocks or struts or both.
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2
Jounce the front suspension and then the rear. To do this, park the Venture on a flat surface and kneel on the front bumper with one knee. Transfer the weight of your body onto the knee and continuously bounce the Venture up and down. Release your weight from the knee and step backward away from the Venture, but pay attention to how many rebound bounces occur. Over two bounces indicates a weakening suspension. Two is acceptable, but if three or more are present, it's time to change the struts. Perform the same jounce test on the rear suspension to test the shocks.
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Notice side to side motion while performing the jounce test. Although the shocks or struts may not bounce up and down more than twice, they can transfer the jounce across the axle back and forth. In other words, each shock or strut may bounce only twice, but alternately. This could be a sign the suspension is getting weak on that axle.
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Inspect the front and rear tires. Run your hands (put a glove on if desired) across the flat tread area of the tire. Go clockwise first and then counterclockwise after. A scalloping or cupping of the tire tread could indicate a weak suspension. This is caused by excessive bouncing as the vehicle drives. The bouncing suspension transfers to the only component contacting the road and the road wears the tire unevenly.
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5
Visually inspect the shocks and struts. Remove the front tires to get a better view of the front struts. Loosen the wheel nuts with a lug wrench and then lift the front of the Venture with the floor jack. Suspend the Venture onto jack stands. Remove the wheel nuts and wheels. Inspect the shaft of each strut to determine if there is leaking oil present. Another indication is dirt or sand from the road coating the shaft of the strut. This would indicate that the strut has leaked oil and the sand and dirt have stuck to the oil.
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Check the upper and lower struts connections. Struts are different than shocks as they are assembled to the coil spring and attached the the front steering knuckle. Just make sure the struts bolts are tight and the upper strut mounts (located in the engine compartment) are tight.
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7
Replace the wheels and torque the wheel nuts to 100 foot pounds.
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8
Lift the rear suspension, but instead of removing the tires, you can crawl under to inspect for leaking shock shafts and broken or loose shock mounts. Also, inspect the shock bushings.
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