Auto Repair: Your Cars Suspension
Your car is capable of doing some pretty amazing stuff, but a lot of parts have to be working correctly for it to run smoothly. One small problem could throw off the rest of the vehicle. This is why it’s so important to keep an eye out for problems and keep up with regular maintenance. One often-overlooked part of your car is the suspension. Read on to learn more about your suspension and why it’s so important to keep it in good shape.
What Is a Suspension System?
Whether you’re cruising down the highway or navigating a small dirt or gravel road, you’re always going to encounter some bumps. Luckily, these bumps aren’t a problem for your vehicle thanks to your car’s suspension. By absorbing some of the shocks and allowing your vehicle to maneuver with the shape of the terrain, your suspension makes your ride a lot smoother.
The goal of your suspension system is to make sure your tires are making even contact with the road. When your tires aren’t making even contact, you get a bumpy ride and poor handling. Your suspension works by using springs to allow your vehicle to move up and down with your tires as you traverse tough terrain. While these springs would normally cause a lot of bouncing and an ultimately uncomfortable ride, that’s not the case thanks to the shock absorbers. These shock absorbers use hydraulic fluid to transfer the energy from the springs into heat energy, giving you a consistently smooth ride.
One of the most amazing parts about your car’s suspension is the fact that it does two jobs that contradict each other. The bounce from the springs would normally make for an uncomfortable ride while a lack of springs would poorly affect handling. By combining springs and shock absorbers, your suspension system can provide you with a comfortable ride while improving your handling on the road.
Signs of Car Suspension Problems
Given the job of your suspension system, it should come as no surprise that taking care of your vehicle’s suspension is important. You should have regular suspension maintenance is done, which includes having your tires checked and inflated, taking your vehicle in for alignment services, and keeping a good set of tires on it. Aside from this maintenance, you also need to keep an eye out for signs that may point to a problem with your suspension.
Pulling to one side while you’re driving is a common sign of suspension problems. This could be a result of uneven tire pressure or tire wear, a vehicle that needs alignment services, or a problem with a part of your suspension system. No matter what the problem is, it’s important to have an auto service shop take a look and rule out anything serious.
If you suddenly feel like your ride quality is particularly rough, it may be caused by a problem with your suspension. Since your suspension is responsible for maintaining good ride quality, you tend to feel a lot more of the rough terrain if you’ve got a bad suspension system. This could be everything from simple leaf spring wear to bad shock absorbers, which is significantly more serious.
Trouble steering may also be caused by suspension problems, although it’s best to have a professional rule out any steering-related parts. If your suspension is affecting your ability to steer, you need to have it fixed right away.
Sometimes, a corner of your car may even sit a bit lower than the others if your suspension is bad.
Car Suspension Upgrades
Because your suspension affects handling and rides quality—two important parts of your vehicle—suspension upgrades are fairly common. You can buy full suspension upgrade kits designed for your vehicle or you can simply buy individual parts to upgrade your suspension with a custom kit. It’s best to have an auto service expert help you choose the right suspension system.
Suspension Repair
If you’ve got a problem with your suspension, you need professional help as soon as possible. Driving with a suspension problem could be bad news if you’re not able to handle your vehicle at high speeds. Fortunately, there are lots of replaceable parts in your suspension system, which means an auto service shop can rebuild or repair your suspension to help you get back on the road.
You can’t afford to take chances when it comes to your suspension. If you’re looking for a quality mechanic in O’Fallon, IL, to get your suspension fixed, Full Circle Auto Service is here to help. We’ll make sure your suspension is good to go so you can stay safe and comfortable on the road. Don’t wait until your suspension problems get even worse; call Full Circle Auto Service today.
