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The suspension system of your vehicle is well known for keeping its movement stable and smooth. It does a lot more than just prevent bumps in the road from being felt, however. Properly functioning suspension reduces the centrifugal forces felt when turning or the dipping experienced when braking. Working suspension is important for maintaining a safe vehicle that can turn and brake correctly.
Signs of Failing Suspension
The suspension keeps your vehicle stable, so it's usually easy to tell if it's beginning to experience problems because it can be felt while driving the vehicle. Some of the most common signs of failing or faulty suspension include:
- Rough driving
- Drifting during turns
- Increased difficulty turning
- Dipping during braking
- Vehicle lower on one corner or side
- Oily shock absorbers
Failing suspension impacts the smoothness of movement and it becomes possible to feel every bump in the road. This is often one of the first and most prominent signs that you need to perform maintenance.
It can also reduce your vehicle's turning and braking ability though. Bad suspension can make it more difficult to turn your vehicle, and it can increase the possibility of a dangerous rollover during sharp turns. Your vehicle's suspension is what holds it stable against the centrifugal force of a turn and this force can actually tip your vehicle over if it isn't handled correctly. In the same way, dips experienced during braking are felt more prominently.
There are also some visual clues to the condition of your suspension system. Often, the suspension of your vehicle won't wear down evenly and this will result in one corner or side of your vehicle sagging. The appearance of your vehicle's shock absorbers may be oily or greasy and this is a sign that they're deteriorating.
You may also be able to see the suspension working incorrectly by using your body weight to push the front or rear of your car down and seeing how quickly it returns to stability. If your car bounces more than 2–3 times, the suspension isn't functioning correctly and may need maintenance.
If you need suspension repair, we invite you to bring your vehicle to our auto repair shop today!