Understanding “what are the common signs of suspension problems” is important information for every driver to prevent safety issues. Here are some of the common signs to look for when your suspension system is about to fail:
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Car pulling to one side
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Feeling the bumps when driving
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Uneven corners
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Other weird behaviors
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Issues with steering
The suspension system is one of the most critical systems that you want to make sure it's working properly all the time. Otherwise, there is a very high chance of getting involved in major car accidents.
Since the suspension system is continuously interacting with the roads, there's a very high chance that this system might get damaged over time of use. Thus, it is important for you as a driver to keep an eye on some of the common signs of suspension problems to detect the problem early.
The earlier you detect any mechanical problem, the better it is for your mechanic to resolve the issue without costing you thousands of dollars.
This article highlights the common suspension system problems and provides you with additional information about the role of the suspension system in your vehicle. It also explains the different causes for early suspension problems that you should be aware of to prevent.
What is the suspension system?
The suspension system is your vehicle's component responsible for connecting the chests to the body and allowing your vehicle to connect with the road through the wheels successfully.
Within the suspension system, manufacturers can define your vehicle's ride comfort and handling. Also, with a different suspension system, your vehicle safety can be different, and the way your vehicle interacts with the road feels different.
Finally, the suspension system monitors and controls the way your vehicle response to bombs and uneven terrains. Thus, without a good suspension system, your vehicle's internal components, especially those interacting with the road, might get damaged prematurely.
In short, the suspension system makes sure that your car's wheels are successfully contacting the road in a way that provides the smoothest ride possible.
Among the many components that are making of the suspension system, here are the most common terms that you might come across:
- Bolt joints
- Struts
- Springs
- Shock absorbers
What are the common signs of suspension problems?
This pension system plays a major role in ensuring that your car acts as smoothly as possible when running over uneven trains or bumps. However, since the system is exposed to a lot of pressure over time, it is not rare to deal with situations where the suspension system gets damaged.
It is important for you as a driver to detect early signs of suspension damage to prevent damaging the entire vehicle and getting yourself involved in safety issues like major car crashes.
The good news is that your vehicle is smart enough to let you know that the suspension system is about to go bad before it even does. Here are some of the common symptoms that you need to look for and keep an eye for indicating that the suspension system is about to fail:
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Car pulling to one side
One of the most obvious signs indicating a problem with the suspension system is when your vehicle pulls to one side more than the other. If that happens, you must immediately inspect the suspension system.
Keep in mind that the problem might also be related to a different issue when your vehicle pulls to one side. For example, improper alignment or deflated tires might also push your vehicle to lean towards one side more than the other.
Therefore, you cannot immediately say that it is a suspension problem because your vehicle is pulling to one side. In fact, you have to go through a thorough inspection and have your mechanic confirm that the problem is coming from the suspension system.
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Feeling the bumps when driving
The primary job of the suspension system is to eliminate any bumps feeling. In other words, when you drive in uneven terrain, you should not feel every single bump because the internal springs and different components within the suspension system take any bump impacts and eliminate it before it reaches the driver.
Therefore, when you notice that bump is much clearer than before you drive the vehicle, it indicates an issue with an air suspension system. It might not be an issue with the entire system, but it could be just one component that needs replacement.
One quick check before you reach the mechanic is to perform what's known as the bounce test. In that test, all you must do is to push your vehicle your entire way down and allow the car to bounce back. Then, count the number of bounces. If your car bounces more than three times, it is a clear indication that there is a problem with the suspension system, and you have to take the car to the nearest repair shop immediately.
Another thing you can do for vehicles equipped with shock absorbers is to check for any fluid leaks. Also, vehicles equipped with struts might make some naughty noises every time you run over a bump.
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Uneven corners
Another way to check whether there is an internal problem with your suspension system is by monitoring the corners. Step back and take a closer look at your vehicle. If you notice that one side is lower than the other side, there is a problem with the suspension system, and most likely, this problem has to do with a damaged spring.
Also, when the corners are not even, you'll hear some weird clunking noises whenever you drive over a bump or run through a pothole.
Keep in mind that uneven corners might be an issue related to a deflated tire. Also, sometimes if the tires are not inflated properly with the same pressure, your vehicle will seem to sit on one side more than the other. Thus, before spending a lot of money on replacing the suspension system, confirm that you have the basics and your tires are in good shape.
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Other weird behaviors
Some customers reported that when their suspension system has a problem, their vehicle behaves a little differently. For example, some cars might roll to one side, and other vehicles might lean backward every time you exploit them.
Therefore, if you notice any of the mentioned behaviors, you most likely have a problem with the suspension system. A mechanic can confirm to you where the problem is mostly coming from.
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Issues with steering
That suspension system also impacts the steering because the steering is connected to the wheels through the division system. So, therefore, if you tried to steer your vehicle and notice that it's giving you a hard time, especially at lower speeds, the problem is most likely related to an issue with the suspension system.
However, difficulty steering might also be linked to problems with the steering system itself or the steering fluid. Thus, it is again recommended that you perform the right inspection to confirm whether the problem is coming from the steering system or the suspension system.
What causes suspension damage?
While this pension system can get damaged over time of use due to internal wear and tear, there are plenty of external factors that might reduce the lifetime of your suspension system.
Let's take a closer look at some of these factors and try to eliminate them as much as possible:
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Cars accidents
According to experts, the common cause for major suspension problems is getting involved in car accidents. But, of course, these accidents do not happen intentionally, and therefore, there is nothing major to prevent when it comes to reducing suspension problems due to car accidents.
However, we always recommend that you follow the road rules and maintain the proper speeds to prevent car accidents as much as possible. This saves the suspension system or the other components and saves your life and the passenger's life driving on the road and in your vehicle.
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Steep road bumps
The suspension system is designed in a way that handles most road bumps. However, there are certain locations with road construction that involves much steeper bumps. Therefore, it is recommended that you tried to eliminate going through these bumps as much as possible to prevent damaging the suspension system.
When going through steep road bumps, several components are more susceptible to damages than others within the suspension system, including the struts, the shocks, the tires, etc.
Even if you could not prevent going through the bond, try as much as you can to drive as slow as possible because speed is another factor that can accelerate, damaging the suspension system when running through Steve pumps.
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Running through potholes
Potholes affect your vehicle in the same way as the bumps when your vehicle runs through the pothole; you're introducing additional pressure to the struts and shocks, especially when forcing them to go out of the pothole.
Therefore, try to eliminate running through the potholes as much as possible, and if it happened, your best option would be to run as slow as possible inside and outside of the pothole.
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Hitting curbs and sidewalks
One of the very common habits by many drivers is hitting the curbs and sidewalks by accidents. Unfortunately, drivers sometimes don’t realize the severity of the negative impacts of such habits.
If for any reason, your vehicle hit a sidewalk or a curb, it is important to have your mechanic perform a thorough inspection of your vehicle’s suspension system to confirm nothing major happened.
When should I replace my suspension?
The suspension system is a durable system, which means that you don't expect it to go bad early. In general, the suspension might need replacement sometime after hitting the 50,000 miles. But, of course, depending on your environment and your driving style, you might need to replace the suspension system much earlier.
Therefore, we recommend that you keep an eye on any of the mentioned signs of suspension problems because once you detect them early, you can help yourself save money on repairs. After all, it might be just a small component within the suspension system that needs replacement.
How to fix suspension problems?
Depending on the source of the suspension problem, the solution and the repair can be different.
Some minor suspension problems can be resolved by just tightening the bolts and nuts in a couple of locations, which doesn’t necessarily cost much money, especially if you do it yourself.
On the other hand, major suspension issues might require replacing the entire system for your vehicle to be driven safely.
Conclusion
The suspension system is not problem-free, and there will be a point in time where you have to deal with suspension damages. Therefore, a good skill set for any driver is to develop a good understanding of the main signs of suspension problems.
Once you detect these problems early, you help the mechanic resolve the issue without replacing the entire system and without getting your self-involved in risky situations.
Unfortunately, certain suspension problems require major repairs. If that's the case, it might not be worth spending thousands of dollars on your vehicle, especially if repair costs are approaching about 75% or more from your vehicle's value. Thus, you are recommended to sell your vehicle to cash cars fire instead and use the money towards a better vehicle without any mechanical problems.
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