When you head out for a drive, you expect a smooth ride. When you hit a bump, you barely notice it, and continue along. 

Unless your suspension has problems. 

The suspension system includes shock absorbers, struts, springs, and tires. Each component works together to smooth out the bumps in the road. If one part is weak or failing, you’ll feel it. 

How the suspension system works

Performance vehicles love to focus on power. Manufacturers will talk about torque, horsepower, and zero-to-sixty acceleration. 

But performance doesn’t mean much if you can’t control the car. Without a suspension system, you’d never be able to handle those performance features. It’s required for both handling and comfort of the passengers. 

If all roads were straight lines, flat with no bumps or curves, your vehicle wouldn’t need a suspension. That’s not the case. Driving is all about stopping and starting, merging into traffic, and turning to get to your destination. It’s a series of movements – some planned, some not – to get you to where you’re going. 

The suspension system is built into the chassis, which includes all of the main parts of the car located beneath the body. It includes:

• The frame – the structural component of the car
• The suspension – supports the weight and absorbs the shocks associated with driving
• The steering – gives you full control over the vehicle’s direction
• The wheels and tires – motion and grip of the road.  

The major components also include:

• Springs, which provide support and control the load and height of the suspension
• Shocks, which absorb and dampen the energy from the tires as they connect to the road
• Anti-sway bar, which shifts the movement of your wheels relative to the steering wheel

When you hit a bump in the road, it forces the wheel to move up and down relative to the energy within the bump. Smaller bumps will barely be noticeable. Larger bumps transfer a lot of energy. This energy is absorbed by the suspension system, which means none of the force makes it to the passenger compartment. 

What happens when your suspension system has problems

If the suspension system works well, your car will handle well. As various components of the suspension system wear out, you’ll feel it in different ways. 

Bouncing when you hit bumps in the road

Hitting potholes, slowing for speed bumps, navigating dips in the road – it’s all a part of your typical commute. If you start to feel each pothole, speed bump, or dip, it might be a sign of a suspension problem. This bouncing movement starts when your shocks are worn out. Shock absorbers are designed to help dampen the impact of movement in the suspension system, and help control the workload of the springs. When the shocks wear out, the springs are left to do all of the work. It’s this excessive spring action that creates the bounce. 

Play in the steering wheel

The steering function is interrelated to the suspension system. If the suspension fails, the vehicle will be more likely to wander from side to side rather than continuing in a straight line. It’ll feel loose as you steer and keep it between the lines. This can also be caused by poor steering alignment, so it’s important to bring it in for inspection to determine where the problem originates from. 

Dipping while braking

When you hit the brakes hard, you should feel every system respond and move into action. It’s a tight process that keeps you safe in emergency situations. If you have a problem with the suspension system, however, you may notice the front of the car dips down when you hard brake, the tightness loosens up a bit. This is a sign you need new shocks. It’s a sign they no longer are doing their job. 

Vehicle leans when it’s parked

Have you ever performed a “flight check” before you drive your car? It’s a good idea to walk around it every once in a while to ensure all systems appear to be working well. This gives you a chance to look at the tires and notice anything that appears to be off. If you notice one corner leans down, lower than the other corners, it’s a sign of suspension failure. An easy way to notice a problem is to focus on the way the tires sit in the wheel well. The space between the tire and the bodywork should be the same on all four sides. 

Pulling to one side

Have you noticed your car pulling to one side or the other while you drive? It’s a sign of a suspension problem. When you’re traveling down a straight road, it should take little effort for your car to stay moving forward. You’ll feel a pull if there’s a problem. It could be a tire that is softer than the other three; it’s pressurized differently. If you notice it more while driving around corners, it might be an alignment problem. 

A noisy ride

Your car is designed to block out the noises of the road. When parts start wearing down and failing, they’ll create unique sounds. When you start to hear a repetitive squeaking or clunking noise coming from under the hood, it’s usually a sign of a suspension part failing. Like other components on your vehicle, the suspension will last anywhere from 50,000 to 100,000 miles. Check your owner’s manual for details on when you can expect to replace each part. If you’re nearing end-of-life for any major part, a proactive approach would be to replace it sooner rather than later. This ensures it never fails at an inopportune time. 

Summary

A car’s suspension system is just one of many crucial components to give you a safe, comfortable ride. Without a suspension system, you’d face each bump with more force, and have more risk on your drive. 

To ensure your suspension system is in good working condition, schedule an inspection with a certified mechanic at the first sign of trouble. It’ll protect you from further damage, and ensure a better drive. 

From the moment you drive a brand new car off the lot, it’s placed in stressful situations every day.

That curb you nudged going around a corner? That may have damaged your tire.

That pothole you hit this morning on the way to the store? That may have compromised your suspension system.

Your car was perfectly designed, put together with care. But the world around you is anything but a perfect place. You can dodge a car that turns into your lane, jump when a rock hits your windshield and causes a crack, flinch when damage in the road jars your car, and all that is getting out of your neighborhood.

Imagine what happens to your car over the course of a year!

What does the suspension system do?

Before we get into all of the things that cause common suspension problems, let’s first take a look at what it does for your vehicle.

Imagine heading out on the open road, and pushing the pedal to the floor to reach 60, 70 miles per hour and more. What gives you control is your suspension system. What makes it a comfortable ride at every speed is your suspension system. Without it, you’d quickly spin out of control.

The primary function of the suspension system is control. It maximizes the connection between the tires and the road. It provides steering stability. It creates even weight distribution between all four wheels. It ensures comfort by absorbing every bump in the road. It limits the stress placed on other parts of the car, ensuring your vehicle sustains a long lifespan.

The suspension system consists of:

• Tires
• Air pressure in the tires
• Shocks
• Struts
• Springs
• Arms
• Bars
• Linkages
• Bushings
• Joints

All suspension parts are located somewhere between the frame of the vehicle and the road. It is designed as a protection system, creating a buffer between your car, the road, and you safely inside.

How do you know if your car has suspension problems?

Even though you can select a car from many different manufacturers, in many different sizes and shapes, they are all built with the same structure and way that they operate. Yes, you have the choice of purchasing many different types and styles of tires, for example, but they are all designed to provide the same basic function.

That makes it easy to recognize when things aren’t working right, no matter what vehicle you drive. There are common suspension problems that materialize when a part weakens or no longer works.

Pulling to one side

At the top of the list, one of the most common signs of a suspension problem is when the car pulls to the left or right while you drive. It’s also a difficult problem to diagnose without the help of a trained mechanic. That’s because it can be a whole host of different issues. It could be an alignment issue. Uneven tire wear. Or a problem with the steering wheel. It can be a problem with the tire rack. Or possibly a sticking problem with a brake caliper.

Every pothole you hit, every bump in the road can jar something loose. If your alignment is out of whack, there’s a reason for it. Some part has either come loose, or is broken altogether. And the only way to get your car back in good working condition is to get to the root of the problem.

A bumpy ride

What happened to your nice, smooth ride? Suddenly, your car feels like an old beat up truck.

A rough ride is a clear indicator that your shocks and struts are worn out or in need of repair. Shock absorbers are designed to absorb every bump in the road. They have hydraulic fluid inside that helps dampen the bouncing motion as it connects with the road. If they lead, your performance suffers.

One corner sits lower than the rest

As you walk up to your car, take a quick look at how it sits. It should always be level. If it isn’t, there’s a problem. When one corner sits lower than the others, it’s likely a damaged spring. You may also start noticing a clunking noise as you hit a bump or turn a corner. That’s because the spring can no longer support the weight of the vehicle.

The shock and the spring are interconnected. If the shock is blown, it overcompensates by compressing the spring, lowering that side of the vehicle. Even the slightest height variance can be a sign of a problem.

Nose dives and rolls

If your car nose dives or leans forward as you brake and come to a stop …

If your vehicle rolls or leans side to side as you turn into corners …

If your vehicle squats or leans back as you accelerate from a stop …

You have a suspension problem.

Difficult steering

Have you ever had a hard time steering your car? Normally, it moves easily, one hand can take control. Then it grows in difficulty, it might even feel like it slips as you turn. This can be caused by a number of problems, including low power steering fluid, a faulty steering pump, a leaking power steering rack, or worn out arm bushings.

The best way to find the root of the problem is to schedule a maintenance visit with one of our mechanics.

Can you fix suspension on a car? 

If you notice any of the common suspension problems listed above, to remain safe, don’t drive your vehicle any more than you have to. Bring your car in quickly to avoid further damage.

The biggest reason is one part can impact others. And what may have been a few hundred dollar repair can escalate into the thousands. It can also escalate from a minor repair into an emergency situation.

Imagine a problem with low tire pressure suddenly moving to critical level with a tire blowout.

That’s just one example of things that can go wrong.

If you suspect you have a suspension problem, don’t delay. Have one of our trained mechanics take a look and diagnose the problem today.