Car suspension is a crucial part of your car that makes your ride comfortable. Car suspension systems have drastically improved over the years compared to before, but the problems that arise are still to be looked into. Suspension units like shock absorbers. Antiroll bars, springs etc. are the ones that regularly take pounding from the dirt roads, potholes, snow, rains, railroad tracks, scrap, and other irregular surfaces. This puts the suspension through a series of wear and tear which leads to issues. Here is a list of 5 common signs of suspension issues that you might be facing. And if you experience any of the following, get your car’s suspension checked right away by expert mechanics at Pitstop.
1. Feeling excessive bumps while driving the car?
One of the main roles of a suspension system is to ensure a smooth drive. Car suspension should be able to cruise through the majority of bumps on the road. But due to a worn-out suspension, you may feel excessive discomfort due to bumps. In shock absorbers, the suspension issue arises due to the leakage of fluid contained in them, which is supposed to dampen the bumps. In case of struts instead of shock absorbers, a knocking sound indicates the suspension problem. The strut assemblage is an important component in most cars, SUVs, and trucks.
Any issue in the same can cause to the safety of your driving. A simple way to ensure your vehicle is not facing a suspension problem is to do a bounce test. Put weight on the front portion of the car and release it. If the car bounces more than 3 times, there is a suspension problem in your car. At Pitstop, expert mechanics will inspect your car properly for any issues with the suspension. Also, your car gets 100% genuine OEM/OES spare parts.
2. Steering the car is getting difficult?
Difficulty in steering arises especially when driving at lower speeds, which means there is a problem with the steering or the suspension system. The problems could be a low level of steering fluids, a flawed power steering pump, leaking steering racks, or worn-out control arms. Control arms are joints that connect the steering to the wheels and the wheels to the frame, while one is turned on the latter response.
The lower control arm bushing is crucial as they face more wear and tear on front-wheel-drive cars compared to rear-wheel-drive cars. Bushings are the components that help absorb shock and when worn out can cause acceleration problems. Signs of wearing include rattling noises and clunking due to wheels moving forth and back or improper steering.
3. Wheels lose alignment more often?
Poor wheel alignment occurs when your vehicle gets pulled to one side during driving. The problem might lie in the tyres, brakes, or shock absorbers. Do constantly check for even wearing of tyres. Incorrect inflation of tyres as over or under-inflation of tyres can affect your vehicle’s steering. Your car might lose alignment quite often if the suspension system is worn out. This is due to the fact that suspension and tyres work in tandem, one not working properly can damage the other. This will lead to loss of mileage due to the wearing of tyres faster than it should be.
4. Is any corner of the car sitting lower than the others?
Bounce Test for Signs of Suspension Problems in your car
If you see one corner sitting lower than the others while your car is standing on a flat surface, there is an issue with the suspension. Clunking noises might be heard while driving over bumpy roads and potholes and this is one of the signs of a suspension problem. Firstly, ensure that your cars are inflated properly. Then, check if one corner of the car sits its weight down on the boot of the car. A creaking or squeaking sound confirms your vehicle needs to be looked into for suspension issues.
5. Is your car’s nose-diving while you apply brakes?
Another common issue is the dive-in of the front of the car. If your car leans forward when you brake, leans from side to side when you corner, or leans backwards when you accelerate, the problem lies in the shock absorbers or struts. You can check the problem by applying brakes in an empty parking lot.
Suspension problems in your car can lead to discomfort or maybe even worse. It is highly advised that you get your car suspension inspected regularly at Pitstop by expert mechanics. You can also reach us out in the comments section below. You can always rely on our expert mechanics to solve all your car problems.
