Suspension
Shock absorbers are used to reduce the annoying effect of travelling on rough terrain, and can improve the ride quality, increase comfort, and enhance the vehicle’s stability and driveability.
Shock absorbers tend to wear and discharge over time and should therefore be monitored. They have a primary function on the safety of the vehicle: in addition to ensuring a smooth and comfortable ride, they are essential to allow the vehicle to have good road holding.
How to tell if shock absorbers need replacing?
Signals that indicate the need to check the status of your shock absorbers include a vibrating steering wheel, reduced braking efficiency, decreased control while cornering, a higher risk of slipping on wet roads even at low speeds, and abnormal tire wear.
Our advice
How long do shock absorbers last?
Check shock absorbers every 12,000 miles and replace them after 50,000 miles.
Car suspension is a critical part of your vehicle, ensuring that your tires remain in contact with the road and your wheels stay aligned. The primary goal of car suspension is to provide a smooth and safe ride.
That is why it is extremely important to know the symptoms of car suspension problems, how they can be resolved, and how they can be prevented. In this article, we will explore all these topics so you will always be prepared if your car suspension suddenly fails you.
Symptoms of Bad Suspension
There are several telltale signs when diagnosing car suspension problems. One of the most common bad suspension symptoms, for example, is realising that one corner of tour car seems to be a lot lower than the other.
Another common bad suspension symptom that might go unnoticed is if your shock absorbers are extremely greasy or oily. If by looking at you shock absorbers, you see that they look too oily then there is a good probability that they are leaking fluid and therefore will not work optimally.
Car Suspension Creaking
A squeaking car suspension can be a warning sing that something is wrong with your vehicle. This could be caused by worn out components that are rubbing together due to insufficient lubrication or deteriorated parts. If a car suspension is creaking it is crucial that you address the issue immediately. Ignoring these sounds can potentially lead to more problems such as uneven tire wear and a failure of the entire suspension system.
Excessive Bouncing or Swerving
The most obvious sign that there are suspension problems is the unnecessary swerving of your vehicle. If you notice that your car pulls from one side to the other when driving, then there probably is a car suspension problem.
Also, since one of the main roles of the suspension is to ensure a smooth ride, if you start to feel more and more bumps, that is a clear sign that your car suspension needs to be checked.
What Causes Car Suspension Problems
Knowing what is causing your car suspension problems is crucial to take preventative measures against this issue. Apart for the regular wear and tear of car suspensions, which can’t be avoided, many of what causes car suspension problems can easily be solved by being more careful and mindful. For example, a common reason for car suspension breakdown is simply neglecting regular maintenance. Often drivers do not remember or do feel that regular maintenance is necessary and that is when car suspension problems they could be prevented occur.
Another instance of an avoidable problem is driving habits. Driving habits have a very serious impact on possible car suspension problems, aggressive driving for example can affect the overall integrity of the car. Driving too fast, speeding over bumps or suddenly braking can accelerate the wear and tear of a car and ultimately lead to car suspension problems.
Solutions for Car Suspension Problems
Since your car suspension is an essential part of what keeps you and others safe on the road, it is crucial to know what to do when you encounter car suspension problems. Driving with a worn suspension can cause serious damage to your car and present significant safety risks.
If any part of your suspension fails or if you start noticing bad suspension symptoms, you need to take immediate action. The first step is to take your car to a service centre, where it can be diagnosed, and the necessary components can be determined for replacement or repair. Once a licensed expert has evaluated the problem and fixed it, it is important to take preventive action, as discussed in the previous paragraph, to ensure the problem does not happen again.