Your vehicle’s suspension system absorbs the shock from bumps in the road for a smoother ride. However, a damaged or worn-out suspension can make driving your car uncomfortable.
The main parts of your suspension are struts, springs, and shock absorbers. A strut combines two key suspension components like a shock absorber inside a coil spring.
How to Know When to Replace Your Shocks and Struts
Many vehicles need shock and strut replacements after reaching the fifty-thousand-mile mark. This critical maintenance point should be kept from being passed up, even if your vehicle feels fine. Shocks and struts are designed to absorb the impact of pavement imperfections, potholes, speed bumps, and other road debris to provide a comfortable, balanced ride for you and your passengers. When they wear out, your vehicle will bounce excessively and may experience front-end dipping under braking.
Regularly inspecting your shocks and struts helps you stay safe, especially when driving around rough terrain or inclement weather. It’s not as easy to tell when these crucial car parts are worn out, unlike tires or brake pads, but there are some tell-tale signs that you shouldn’t ignore. Leaking fluid from the shocks or struts, clunking noises when going over speed bumps or potholes, and cupped tire wear are some of the most common warning signs that it’s time to replace them.
How to Know When to Replace Your Bushings
Your bushings reduce vibration and friction in your car’s mechanical joints. They also act as insulators and padding at various points in your suspension system, including on the control arms. Over time, the bushings can wear out, causing various problems.
These problems include clunking noises, misalignment, and uneven tire wear. If you notice that one side of your tire is significantly more worn down than the other, it could indicate that your suspension is wearing out or has failed.
While most people don’t think about their suspension much, keeping vehicle suspension North Vancouver in good condition is vital. By paying attention to how your vehicle drives, its sound, and other indicators, you can keep it running smoothly for as long as possible. While the old saying “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” may be tempting to follow, this can lead to disastrous results in the long run.
How to Know When to Replace Your Springs
As the heavy-lifting component of a suspension system, springs are designed to last for the life of your vehicle. However, they still need to wear down eventually and must be replaced.
An unavoidable sagging in the vehicle’s ride height is a common sign that your springs are starting to go wrong. If you’re not careful, the weakened springs will allow too much travel over dips in the road, which can cause damage to other components like your oil pan or transmission pan.
Another sign that your springs might be on the verge of breaking is when a vehicle makes groaning or popping noises when going over speed bumps or similar obstacles. Run your hand over all the coils and feel for any breaks in the metal.
Keeping a maintenance log is a great way to keep track of spring conditions over time.
How to Know When to Replace Your Anti-Roll Bar
In addition to replacing the springs, struts, and bushings on your car suspension, you may need to replace its anti-roll bar. Often called drop links, this simple component has a massive impact on your car’s stability and performance when taking turns or performing sharp maneuvers.
In particular, the rubber bushes can harden or degrade over time. This can lead to squeaking or knocking noises when the vehicle is cornering or driving over large bumps.
Sports cars typically use a stiffer anti-roll bar to boost their handling and performance around corners. A broken anti-roll bar can reduce stability and control, making it unsafe to drive your car. This is why you must check your suspension components regularly for signs of wear and tear. Replacing these parts before they break down can save you much money in repairs and replacement costs.
