Signs You Need to Repair Your Car's Suspension

Your car's suspension system works to provide a smooth and comfortable ride, but is also subject to great deal of wear and stress over time. A suspension system that is no longer working can cause damage to the actual structure of your car, as it is unable to absorb the pressure from bouncing over rough terrain or poorly paved roads. Thankfully, there are a number of warning signs that you can keep your eye out for to determine when you need to take your vehicle in to have the suspension looked at before it can cause actual damage to the frame of your car.

Uneven Tire Wear

A clear sign that your suspension system isn't working as effectively as possible is if your tires have uneven wear patterns. This can take the shape of wear on one side of your vehicle over another, or in one sided patterns on individual tires. However, this is not an indication of damage to your suspension system directly, it can also be caused by inflation issues as well, but if uneven tire wear occurs in conjunction with some of the issues below, you should have your suspension looked at.

Unusual Sounds

If you notice that your vehicle is making peculiar noises while driving over rough terrain or taking corners, it could be a sign that your suspension system has become seriously worn. These sounds take the form of a knocking or grunting, which indicate actual wear to the steering mechanism or the shocks. Further, a squeaking noise that resembles a door that is in dire need of oil represents damage or wear to the ball joints of your suspension system (if not actual rust somewhere in there as well). If any of these noises occur, you should head to a mechanic immediately, even if they aren't attributed to your suspension system (which is unlikely) they represent a serious problem somewhere within your vehicle that needs to be looked at.

Vehicle Body Movement

An increase in the movement of your vehicle's body while driving is a clear sign of suspension damage and wear. This can take the form of excessive leaning of the body to the side while turning, or dipping and bobbing when coming to a stop, even if it's a gradual one. This represents a lot of wear in your shocks, and can be a major distraction while driving due to less stability in the cabin. If you've noticed an increase in the movement of your vehicle's body, you should head to a mechanic straight away.

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