Getting new front tires and an alignment soon. I've checked the ball joints, which are OK, and the tie rods appear fine. My question: how can you tell when the shock absorbers in the McPherson struts are worn? My experience of Volvos, as with most European cars, is that the springs are stiffer and the total car weight less, so that the classic American test -- bounce the car and see how long it takes to settle down -- won't work. Short of taking it apart, is there a way to tell?