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Your Suspension Is Important – Here’s Why

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We’ve all seen the aftermath of a car out of control. The sides are crushed. The windows are broken. If it rolls, the roof may be caved in. 

It’s your car’s suspension system that keeps it safely on the road. 

A car can flip for a number of reasons. But if it isn’t well maintained, it increases the chance of problems occurring while driving out on the open road. Have you noticed:

  • Bouncing more than usual when you ride on a bumpy road
  • More pull in the steering wheel as you drive
  • It’s harder to keep control on wet roads
  • Traction issues as you move through curves and take turns

All of these are signs you may be experiencing problems with your suspension system. 

What is a suspension system?

Your car’s suspension system is a protective layer of shock-absorbing components designed to keep your drive safe and smooth as you move down the road. It includes a variety of parts, including tires, struts, shock absorbers, steering, springs, sway bars, and axles. 

The front suspension system is in charge of steering and traction functions, while the rear suspension helps keep your car stable, ensuring it doesn’t hit the ground. The two work together to keep distance between the car’s frame and the road for optimal comfort and control. The passenger cabin is designed for comfort because it’s sitting on top of the suspension connected to the wheels. It’s insulated to keep passengers from feeling every impact as it maneuvers over bumps in the road. 

Your Suspension Is Important - Here’s Why

When you talk with a mechanic about your suspension system, in general, it includes:

  • Springs, which control the height and load
  • Shocks, which absorb and dampen the energy your tires transmit as they contact the road

Your car may also have an anti-sway bar to help shift the movement of your wheels as you turn the steering wheel. It stabilizes the car as you turn the steering wheel to move directions. 

Why the suspension system is important

If you were to separate the suspension system from the cabin for a moment, and see the wheels in action as they move down the road, you would see the tires take the brunt of every bump in the road. Small bumps may move the tires vertically. Holes may cause the tires to move and sway. Depending on the size of the imperfection in the road will determine just how much your vehicle’s tires move and sway. 

Without a suspension system, you would feel every one of these imperfections every time you hit one. Your drive would be uncomfortable at best. 

The suspension system works to absorb the energy transferred through the wheels to help your car’s inside cabin stay comfortable as it rides along imperfect roads. Both the shocks and springs play a vital role in this process. The shocks absorb the energy from impact as you travel down the road, while the springs expand to dissipate the energy to prevent your car from bouncing out of control. 

Combined, you get a car that stays safe and remains comfortable no matter where you drive.  

You have more control through steering, and can do so with ease. The tires remain connected with the road for a safer and more stable drive.  With a properly working suspension system, each part will do its job effectively without putting the other components at risk. Meaning a longer life span for your vehicle. 

Signs your shocks and struts need replacing

The words “shocks and struts” are often used reciprocally, but they are two different things. Each wheel has either a shock or a strut, though many vehicles use struts on the front wheels and shocks on the rear. You can consult your owner’s manual for more information on which your vehicle uses. Or look under your car. They are easy to distinguish as long as you know what you’re looking for. 

In general, shocks and struts will need replacing every 50,000 to 100,000 miles. This will change depending on your driving habits. If you frequently drive over rough roads, you will be replacing the parts on your suspension system more frequently. 

Like other parts of your car, shocks and struts don’t fade all at once. Instead, they deteriorate slowly over time. You’ll start noticing signs long before your safety is put at risk. 

There are four main ways your shocks and struts signal it’s time for replacement. 

A bumpy ride

If you’ve started noticing your ride is rougher, it could be time to replace the parts on your suspension system. We’ve often heard drivers say, “it feels like I’m driving a truck.” Even the slightest bump in the road will cause you to sway inside your vehicle. 

Leaking fluid

Shocks and struts use hydraulic fluid to complete the action. If the seal is broken and fluid leaks on the exterior of the shock or strut, it’s a sign of a problem with the suspension system. If a shock doesn’t have enough hydraulic fluid, it won’t be able to absorb impact while you drive. 

Difficulty while driving

Do you notice your vehicle swaying as you take turns? Or nose diving when you hit the brakes? This is a clue the shocks and struts aren’t doing their job efficiently. They aren’t handling the weight distribution as you move through normal driving conditions. And if your car can’t stop as it’s supposed to, it’s never a good sign. 

Tire tread

You can also take a look at the tire tread to determine if your suspension system is off. If you see wavy dips, also known as cupping, in the tire tread, it’s a telltale sign of the tires not completely connecting with the road as you drive. Without the shocks and struts performing their jobs, your wheels might not fully connect with the road, leaving uneven wear marks on the tires. Without proper tread, your tires may not provide thorough handling and stopping power when you need it most. 

Is it time to get your suspension system checked out? 

If you suspect any of these signs are causing a less than stellar drive, it’s time to let a mechanic take a look at the suspension system and ensure it’s in good working condition. It’s what keeps you and your family safe no matter what the road conditions are like on your daily drive. 

When was the last time you scheduled a regular maintenance visit to determine if your car is in good working condition? Do it today. 

Does Suspension Impact Brake Wear?

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It’s estimated that the average car on the road today has over 30,000 parts. And while it’s not important to know every part, you should learn the basic systems and how they operate. This helps you stay on top of the condition of your car, and can alert you to when things go wrong.

Let’s start by discussing the braking system and your suspension, and how the two work together.

How car brakes work

A car’s braking system is fairly simple to understand. When you press down on the brake pedal, the car slows down or stops. If you’ve ever ridden a bicycle, you know how the process works.

The brake pedal is connected to a part called the master cylinder with a metal rod. The master cylinder chamber is filled with brake fluid, which is what makes the brake system work. Brake lines are connected from the master cylinder to the brake calipers, which give passageway for the brake fluid to flow.Does Suspension Impact Brake Wear?

When you press down on the brake pedal, the metal rod moves up and down, compressing the brake fluid in the master cylinder. As pressure builds, it moves through the brake lines and creates the force the brake system needs to operate. More force on the brake pedal pushes more pressure in the brake line, and ultimately more force for stopping the car.

When you take your foot off the brake pedal, it releases the pressure via spring action. It moves back to resting position, releasing the brakes at each wheel and allowing the car to move freely.

How steering and suspension work

The steering and suspension work together to keep your car under control.

The steering system gives you directional control over your vehicle. The suspension system supports the weight of your vehicle and gives it a smooth ride, while providing stability for the current road conditions. Together, they keep your car under control and give you both drivability and handling.

If you’ve ever had a problem with your steering, you’ve probably heard the term “rack and pinion.” This is one of the most common steering systems used for many cars on the road today. As you turn your steering wheel, it’s rotating on a pinion. This movement rotates a rack, which controls the direction of your wheels from one angle to another. Think of the rack and pinion as a gear shift that work together. As you rotate the steering wheel, the pinion catches in the circular gear connected to the rack, giving you a turning radius.

While rack and pinion is one of the most popular, it isn’t the only format. Other popular types of steering design include parallelogram steering, which includes power steering pumps, Pitman arms, idler arms, and a center link. They have joints and levers work together to form the modern day steering and suspension system.

Ultimately, no matter what type of steering and suspension system you have, the goal is to provide you with a smooth ride.

How brakes and steering and suspension work together

It should be fairly easy to see how the two systems work together. The steering and suspension provide stability to keep you safe on the road, while the braking system gives you the control you need to adjust to traffic conditions.

If your suspension is off, your car won’t handle well when braking. It may nosedive. It can cause you to swerve. All of which can cause you to pound on the brakes, wearing them out before their time.

Does your car have problems with the suspension? Have you noticed any of these signs?

Your car rides roughly

Every system in your vehicle is designed to tell you in advance that it’s reaching end of life. When the shocks and struts of your suspension system are wearing out, you’ll start to feel every bump on the road. Have you noticed a bounce when you ride? That’s an indication your suspension system is having problems.

Your car drifts or pulls as you turn

When a car’s suspension system fails, it starts to drift or pull as you make a turn. This means the shocks are no longer doing their job to keep your car stable as it moves through turns. This can increase your risk of rollover if you take the turn too fast.

Your car nose dives as you stop

When shocks wear out, you’ll likely feel the car nose dive as you apply the brakes. This can reduce the stopping power of your brakes, meaning it will take more distance to safely come to a stop.

Your tires will wear unevenly

Glance at your tire tread from time to time. If you see uneven wear, it could be a sign your suspension system isn’t doing its job. It applies pressure on the tires in different ways, creating bald spots in certain places.

Your shocks are oily

If you take a look under your vehicle, or glance at the ground as you drive away, do you notice wet spots? It a greasy, oily liquid appears where your shocks and struts were lined up, it could be they are leaking fluid. Anytime fluid leaks, it’s a sign the system isn’t doing its job at full capacity.

Try the bounce test

One of the easiest ways you can determine if your suspension system isn’t working is to apply the bounce test. With the car in park, press down on the hood of the car, then release. Do the same thing on the trunk. If the car bounces as you release it, it’s a sign your suspension system is wearing out.

Do you have a problem with your brakes, steering or suspension system? We can help.

Your brakes and suspension system are designed to help your vehicle function properly, while giving you a safe, smooth ride. Letting either system continue to operate at a less-than-optimal rate puts you at risk as well as costs you money as more damage continues to accrue.

Stop by today and let assess your vehicle’s performance. Together we can help keep you on the road longer, and enjoy the ride.

How To Determine When It’s Time For Shock Replacement

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If you are a regular at any car repair shop, chances are you’ve seen the ads for shocks and struts. But without taking your car in for a check up, is there a way for you to determine when it’s time for shock replacement on your car?

Different manufacturers of shocks and struts provide different guidelines for their products. Many mechanics will tell you it’s not as cut and dry as it is with oil changes and spark plugs. Instead, it depends on the circumstances of your driving habits, and the overall characteristics of your car. Instead of relying on mileage as a test, its more important to know the habits of your car.

Start with the “bounce test”. A bounce test is easy to perform: simply apply pressure to the body or bumper of the car to bounce the car. If the car continues to move up and down more than a time or two after release, the parts are showing wear and should be replaced.

You can also notice your cars behavior. When you drive on rough roads or hit a bump, does it bounce excessively? Does the nose dip down when breaking? Is it easy to bottom out the suspension when backing out of the driveway or hauling extra passengers or cargo?

Any of these could be a sign your car is in need of a shock replacement.

And driving on worn out shocks can be a hazard over time. Worn out shocks and struts may cause your stopping distance to increase, especially on rough surfaces. It can have an impact on your driving capabilities, especially in adverse conditions. And they can cause damage to your tires prematurely, meaning you’ll have more expense than is truly necessary.

[Express Care is a family owned auto repair shop in the Denver Colorado area that offers a variety of services, including shock replacement. Conveniently located at Evans and I-25, we look forward to doing business with you.]

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