how do you know if your struts are shot?
 

my car has been on eibach sportlines for 3 years. drove it yesterday and it feels bumpy and rough now. it also seems a little more bouncy. tried to look underneath and see anything coming out of the struts like oil and didnt see anything. no squeaks, car still drives straight and everything else appears ok.

Lean all your weight on a corner of the car. Get off the car quickly and allow the suspension to rebound. The springs push up and the dampers resist motion. The car should rebound up and settle exactly once. If it bounces, the shocks are done.

Check them for bullet holes?

Bouncing after bumps and a harsher ride feeling compared to before is a good sign of worn struts. Also if they have over 50,000 miles on them then its probably time to replace them.

I'm at 160k and still rocking the original suspension setup :). And yes, I'm pretty darn sure they're shot and need replaced. But it's a cheap commuter car, so not worth the money.

^ one of the few times we're 100% on the same page, but I've got an extra 40k of totally-shot strut miles on my car :beercheers: