JGR shock expert gives tips for everyday smooth rides

Known as "Dr. Who" in the NASCAR garage, Ronnie Crooks is the David Copperfield of magical shock packages.

Crooks works on shock absorbers every day, and you might say he's been pretty good at it. Racecars with his shocks on them have won two Cup Series championships with Joe Gibbs Racing and the No. 20 car.

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Crooks can trace his racing roots to the Alabama Gang -- a group of hard-nose racers featuring Bobby and Donnie Allison, the legendary Red Farmer, and Neil Bonnett, all of whom hail from Hueytown, Ala., Crooks' hometown.

A familiar face in the NASCAR garage, Crooks has earned his Dr. Who moniker for all of the magical things he can do with shocks. Not only does he work for the Joe Gibbs Racing bunch, but he also helps all of the Toyota teams with chassis design, chassis set-up, chassis engineering and shock packages.

"Having someone like Ronnie Crooks on your side is such a positive," wrote Darrell Waltrip in a recent FOXSports.com feature. "He's one of the best I've ever seen and he definitely is one of the best in the garage area."

From his experience with shock absorbers, Crooks offers a few tips for the average motorist when dealing with this important but often misunderstood component.

"If there's a lot of body movement, it's hard to control the car in turns and if it moves a lot when you're stopping, you've got a problem," Crooks said. "You need to replace them right away. You pretty much have what you have, so when they're used up you need to replace them."

Crooks recommends an aftermarket shock absorber as a replacement.

"They're good quality and some are even adjustable," Crooks said. "They'll improve your ride considerably. They cost more, but saving $5 or $10 per shock in a passenger car isn't a big deal. There are some pretty good OEM [original equipment manufacture] shocks out there, but I would recommend going with an aftermarket product."

Crooks also said that the type of shock your car needs depends on what the car is being asked to do on a daily basis.

"If you do autocross or something like that with your car, then adjustable is the way to go, but they're good even for everyday drivers."

Tips for keeping track of your shock absorbers:

• Push down on the front fender (either side) and release. If the car bounces more than once, it's time to replace your shocks.

• Note any excessive body roll or tire hop when turning the car.

• If the front of the car dives when you apply the brakes, then bounces under braking, get to your technician immediately.

• If the car appears to bound down the highway, or jumps around after hitting a pothole or speed bump, it's time to see your technician.

You may not put your shock package to the test as much as Crooks' driver, Tony Stewart, did this year on the track, but having the right shocks on your car is just as important to a smooth ride everyday on the street.