Most people don’t give much though about their car’s suspension while it’s working. But once something goes wrong it can be complicated. Imagine that you suddenly you notice uneven wear on your tires or start to feel excessive play with your steering wheel. Or all of a sudden you hit a pothole on one of our local Phoenix roads that damages your suspension. These are some of the signs that you may have suspension problems. Another possible sign to look for is if the front of your vehicle slumps when braking or bottoms out when accelerating.
Due to the fact that your suspension is installed behind your wheels and under your vehicle, many people ask “what is the suspension?”. Well simply put, t’s part of your vehicles chassis, this includes the steering system, the wheels along with the frame. Your suspension system supports your entire vehicle, helping to reduce the effect of impacts from the road and maintains proper wheel alignment. It’s crucial for accurate steering, stopping and stability. Every time you hit a bump, pothole or object in the road, your suspension absorbs the impact and maintains control.
In most modern vehicles suspension systems are made up of many parts such as: shocks, springs absorbers, pull rods, air springs, struts, torsion bars, leaf springs, etc. that all connect to your vehicle wheels one way or another.
As you can imagine, with all those parts your suspension has lots of joints and pivot points that allow your wheels to move smoothly up and down over bumps, and to turn as you steer. With all that work your vehicle does over time will wear out those joints. Once a joint is worn, the suspension parts don’t fit together as originally designed, handling and steering can feel loose, and you may hear some disconcerting noises. Eventually your tires will begin to wear unevenly because they are bouncing al over the road. A loose joint has the effect of stressing other suspension components as well, causing a chain reaction so other components will wear out faster.
Perez Auto Repair of Phoenix recommends getting proper maintenance based on your vehicles manufacturer’s recommendations. This means regularly having your suspension inspected with certified ASE mechanics and repairing or replacing parts when ever necessary.
By addressing small problems before it becomes a major repair can help avoid costly future repairs. Also, be sure to have parts replaced or checked ensuring your mechanic follows the manufacturer’s specifications. Manufacturer’s also recommend replacing your shock absorbers at pre-estimated intervals.
If your car or truck is showing any of the above signs or you feel your vehicle’s suspension needs service or are not sure and would like to have it diagnosed, contact Perez Auto Repair online via phone 602-269-3576 or stop into our facility located at 429 S. 35th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85009. Always keep your vehicle in good condition and ensure the safety of yourself, your loved ones, and those around you!