The suspension of a vehicle is integral in maintaining its stability on the road, ensuring a comfortable ride, and facilitating smooth handling around curves. Many suspension components, such as bushings, struts, shocks, and springs, are subject to wear and tear. As they wear out, you’ll hear various noises and will notice other symptoms. When you know what suspension issues to look for, you can often get your vehicle in for auto repair at Sherwood Forest Auto Specialists in Houston, TX, before something completely fails and leaves you stranded.
Signs You Need Suspension Repair or Suspension Service
Hardly anyone thinks about their vehicle’s ride until suspension issues creep up. If you know what to look for, you can save yourself some money by repairing worn or broken parts before they affect other parts.
Common signs you need suspension repair include:
Excessive Bouncing
If you hit a bump and the vehicle doesn’t stop bouncing, you may need shocks or struts. You can test the shocks and struts by pushing down two or three times on each corner of the vehicle. When you stop pushing, the vehicle should stop bouncing after one or two bounces. If not, you need struts or shocks.
Rough Ride
If the vehicle has a rough ride, you may have suspension issues, usually shocks, struts or springs.
Uneven Tire Wear
If you have uneven tire wear, you may have suspension or alignment problems. Generally, if the issue is with the suspension or alignment, the tires wear one side of the tread down, or you’ll see scalloping across the entire tread pattern. If the tires wear only in the center, you most likely have too much air pressure. If the tire wear shows on both edges of the tread but not in the center, you most likely don’t have enough air pressure in the tires.
Noises
If you hear banging, clunking or other noises, especially when you go over a bump or hit a pothole, you may have issues with some suspension parts or bushings. It could also indicate loose suspension parts.
Pulling
When the vehicle pulls to one side, if you let go of the steering wheel, you may need an alignment or have suspension problems. Pulling affects vehicle control and increases the risk of accidents.
Hard Steering
If it is hard to turn the steering wheel, you could have issues with the steering or suspension, especially if the difficulty is at lower speeds.
Sagging
If one corner of the vehicle sits lower than the other three, and the issue is not a flat tire, you may have a broken spring, damaged strut tower or shackle.
Fluid Leaks
If you see fluid leaking from the shocks or struts, you will need to replace them.
Diving or Squatting
Worn shocks and struts also show up as diving or squatting. If the front of the vehicle dives when you step on the brakes or the rear squats when you accelerate, one or both shocks or struts on the front or rear, respectively, are bad. While some might suggest using lower-quality shocks for drag racing to achieve better tire grip due to vehicle squatting, it compromises ride comfort and could potentially be unsafe. Prioritize safety and quality in such scenarios.
Vibrations
When you feel a vibration in the steering wheel or the seat, you may have a problem with the suspension. This is also an indication that you need to balance the tires, especially when the vibration happens between 55 and 75 mph.
Difficulty Controlling the Vehicle
If the vehicle seems as though it’s harder to handle on uneven roads or when you have to make a sudden maneuver, you may have a problem with the suspension.
Warning Lights
Some vehicles will have sensors to detect suspension issues and illuminate warning lights. If you see these, always have Sherwood Forest Auto Specialists in Houston, TX check your vehicle’s suspension immediately.
Contact Sherwood Forest Auto Specialists for Supsension Repair in Houston, TX
If you suspect issues with your vehicle’s suspension, contact a steering and suspension specialist at Sherwood Forest Auto Specialists at (281) 272-6671 for an appointment or direct the tow truck to bring your vehicle to 1818 Sherwood Forest St., Houston, TX 77043.
