Freeze-thaw cycles make potholes, and potholes make this work. Struts and shocks wear gradually enough that people stop noticing, right up until the car floats over bumps or the tires start wearing unevenly. Ball joints and tie rod ends are the ones that matter for safety, because they are what keeps the wheel attached to the steering.
Worth knowing: replacing struts or control arms changes the alignment, so an alignment belongs in the same visit. A shop that skips it is selling you a second set of tires.
Describe what the car is doing — the noise, when it happens, what changed. Half the diagnosis is in the description.
What actually failed, what it costs to fix, and what happens if you wait — before any work starts, not after.
The repair gets done and you get told why it failed, so you know whether to expect it again on this car.
★★★★★“The first time I went to Don, he was so helpful and thorough. I went to get a diagnostic for my vehicle, and he was able to tell me in depth what was wrong. The things I did not understand, he helped me to understand.”
★★★★★“Fast and reliable with affordable pricing, you can't beat it!! Harris Mechanics has worked on several different cars I've had and each time goes smooth without any complications. They've even taken my car in on short notice with no issues.”