It’s easy to think your car’s suspension is working fine until you hit a pothole or drive over a speed bump at a higher speed than usual. But even if you’ve never noticed any signs of trouble, it’s important to know when your car needs suspension repair. If you notice any of the following symptoms with your car’s suspension system, it may be time for repair:
1. Rough ride
The suspension system’s job is to keep your vehicle stable, even when driving over rough terrain. If any part of this system fails, you’ll notice a rougher ride when going over potholes and speed bumps. If your car bounces up and down more than usual, there might be something wrong with your shocks or struts.
These parts support the weight of your vehicle and keep it level while driving on roads with bumps and dips in them. If they’re damaged, then they won’t be able to do their job properly, and it will cause your ride to be bumpy and uncomfortable.
2. Uneven tire treads
Tires are important parts of your car’s suspension system. It’s important to keep an eye on them to make sure that they don’t have uneven wear on their treads. If you glance at your tires and notice that they don’t look totally uniform, it may be time to have them checked. Uneven wear is often a sign that some kind of suspension issue is occurring.
It’s not just that the alignment is off-it’s also possible that the wheel bearings are worn out or that the struts have lost their ability to cushion the ride. Using your tires inefficiently can result in you needing to replace them more frequently, just as having a faulty suspension system can lead to other costly car repairs.
3. The car dips or “nose dives” when stopping
If your car dips when you come to a stop, it’s possible that the shocks in the front or back need to be replaced. The dip is actually caused by wheel travel-if one wheel “travels” further than another, it dips lower, and it makes for an uneven ride. For example, if your front driver’s side wheel travels farther than its counterpart in the back, you’ll see an immediate dip in the car’s front end because of this wheel movement.
Similarly, if your rear driver’s side wheel travels farther than its counterpart in the front, there will be a dip in the car’s rear end. Shock replacement can fix this problem by allowing for even wheel travel and producing a smooth ride again.
Conclusion
If you notice any of these signs in your car, then contact a mechanic immediately for inspection and repair services. Never ignore the warning signs of a problem with your vehicle’s suspension. The suspension keeps your tires on the ground and prevents your car from becoming difficult to handle or even dangerous to drive.
