Your Mercury shocks are more than an extra luxury to ensure you enjoy a smooth ride in your car. Your Mercury shocks manage the movement of the suspension, and the action of the springs in particular. The stability of your car's chassis and body stability will be maintained, even when the tires are moving violently in response to rough road conditions. The Mercury shock absorbers are designed to absorb and control the vertical movement of your vehicle's springs. Shocks do not control the height of the vehicle; this is the function of the springs. There is confusion among car owners about the difference between shocks and struts. Shocks are just one part of the entire suspension system, while a strut is a complete suspension assembly that replaces the upper ball joint, shock, and spring with one unit. Shocks are normally composed of the following parts: assembly brackets, shock absorber fixations, spring seats, outer tube bottom, rod guides, valves and support ring. Check your Mercury shocks every 12,000 miles or so. If you see signs of wear and tear, order your new set of Mercury shocks here and replace them yourself. The job should take about an afternoon to complete.