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.
★★★★★“I'm a first time car owner and pretty ignorant when it comes to car maintenance and repairs. That being said this was the first shop I took my car to get work done on it and from the beginning Leo was kind, honest, and very patient.”
★★★★★“I've been with Leo for almost 15 yrs. I wouldn't go anywhere else. He's honest and will work with you, he'll give you options and do what he can to make sure your car is in working order.”