The car started handling the road worse, especially on bumps. I noticed that when braking, the front end dips down more heavily. Is this a sign that the shock absorbers are worn out, or something else?
What you're describing really does sound like worn-out shock absorbers - when the car doesn't grip the road well on bumps and the front dips a lot when braking, those are classic signs. Check if there are any other weird noises when driving over potholes, and definitely have a mechanic look at the car on a lift - they'll be able to say for sure whether it's the shock absorbers or if there's something wrong with the suspension. Don't put it off, because worn shocks affect safety and speed up wear on other suspension parts.
Haven't you had your car checked on a diagnostic stand in a while? The thing is, sagging during braking might not just be from the shocks - it could be from worn springs or suspension issues in general, sometimes it all comes together. I'd suggest not guessing and just going for a diagnostic, because if the shocks are really shot, it's dangerous: your car will bounce over potholes, your braking distance will increase, and on wet roads it can be seriously risky. Plus worn shocks often damage the strut bearings and bump stops, so it's better to get a proper diagnosis than to guess.
My friend had exactly the same situation - her car started bouncing on bumps and the front end would dip sharply when braking. Turned out it was the shock absorbers that were worn out. But I wouldn't rely only on these sensations - it's better to lift the car on a lift or take it to a service center and check if there's any oil leakage on the struts, because sometimes the problem is more complex and the springs are also shot. To be sure you need a proper diagnostic check, that'll make it clear right away.
The symptoms you're describing do point to the shock absorbers, but they're not always the only culprits. The front end sagging when braking could be down to them, but you should also check the condition of the springs and struts - sometimes they wear out together. Poor handling over bumps - yeah, that's a classic sign of worn shocks. The car kind of "floats" down the road instead of cleanly handling the bumps.
To figure it out more precisely, check a few other things. Park the car and push down on the roof above each wheel - if the body bounces and sways for a while, that's a pretty clear sign. Also pay attention to uneven tire wear - with bad shocks, wear is distributed unevenly and the edges of the tread wear out faster. And check if there's any oil leaking on the shocks themselves, though that's already a pretty obvious sign.
In any case, it's better to take it to a service center for diagnostics and ask a specialist to check the whole suspension, not just the shocks. Maybe you need a complete replacement, or maybe just a wheel alignment will help. Driving with worn shocks is dangerous - your braking distance increases - so don't put it off.
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