All cars will have parts that wear out. A car that is 14 years and 76000 miles is due for some part fails. I replaced the rear shocks on my 2002 Cadillac Deville a couple months ago, and the car feels BETTER now than it did then! I guarantee that if you replace them, you will fall in love with the car all over again. As a side note, talk to any car repair shop, they will suggest replacing shocks/struts every 50,000 miles. You weren't overdue, but it's time to repair it.
TS