When it’s working as it should, your car’s suspension should help you enjoy a pretty smooth ride over most terrains. However, there are many ways that issues can present themselves when you’re driving, which can have severe impacts on your safety. Here are some of the most common car suspensions problems, as well as what to do about them.
Rough ride
When cars were first invented, they had solid wheels and no suspension, so riding in them was a bumpy and not-too-pleasant experience. Modern engineering has therefore done much to improve things, making cars not only safer but also more enjoyable to drive.
Nevertheless, like most of your vehicle’s components, the suspension will not last forever. If you drive too quickly over a pothole or speedbump, this can also damage the suspension. You’ll notice that all is not right with the suspension if you can feel almost every bump in the road – even minor ones – and this could indicate problems with the shock absorbers or leaf springs.
Pulling to one side
If your call pulls to the left or right as you drive and you’re having trouble keeping it straight, this could be caused by one of many different issues, such as poor wheel alignment, tyres wearing unevenly or going flat, or issues with the suspension. You should therefore first check whether the pressure for each tyre is correct and if they are starting to wear down too much.
If your car is still pulling to one side as you drive, it might be worth checking the wheel alignment and suspension for issues, before the problem becomes any worse, which can impact your safety and the safety of others on the road.
Car sits low
While some may think it’s cool for the car to sit so low that it’s almost touching the road, it can actually create many problems for your vehicle and increase the chances of it sustaining damage. This is also true if the car is sitting low due to issues with the suspension, which may be evidenced by one corner of the car sitting lower than the others.
This issue can impact cornering, as well as going over bumps, where you may hear a clunking noise from a damaged spring. One way to test for this problem is by pushing down on the side of the car which is sitting low. If you hear a cracking or squeaking sound then it’s likely the suspension is damaged and will need to be replaced.
Nose diving/squatting backwards
When stopping the car – even at a relatively low speed but particularly when braking quickly – if you notice that the nose of the car dips down suddenly, this could be an indication that there is an issue with the front suspension. Alternately, if the rear of the car squats or leans backwards when accelerating, this could indicate an issue with the back suspension.
If you’re experiencing any of the above issues whilst driving, give us a call and we’ll help you get back safely on the road.
