7 Signs Your Car Needs a Suspension Service

The suspension system is an essential component of every automobile, yet often overlooked in terms of its crucial role and contribution to its overall performance and safety. Suspension keeps you stable on the road, allows for precision handling, and protects other components from any damage. Without it, driving a vehicle would be a very cumbersome and dangerous experience.

Naturally, this system does all the heavy lifting to keep your car running smoothly takes a toll, resulting in wear and tear or the need for repairs and replacements. According to expert mechanics, it’s necessary to get a suspension service every 30,000 – 40,000 km, even if there are no glaring issues. This range also depends on various factors like model, age, and overall condition of your car.

However, there might be some situations, like accidents or driving over uneven roads, might damage the suspension and compromise the vehicle’s safety. In that case, you should opt for a car suspension repair before it’s time for your routine maintenance. So, with so much information available, how do you know the car requires suspension service? Well, here are 7 signs that will guide you:

When something is wrong with the suspension, its various components can become loose or misaligned. This causes them to rub and grind against each other, creating a squeaking or creaking sound every time the car drives over speed bumps or rocky roads. Worn or damaged suspension bushings are yet another cause of concern here.

These bushings are tiny rubber or polyurethane components that are designed to absorb the shocks and vibrations of the road. If they are damaged, other parts of the suspension system might begin to move around excessively, once again making the car squeak. As an experienced driver, you can visually inspect the shocks, struts, springs, and bushings for any sign of wear and tear. However, if you’re unsure what to look for, you might want to consider consulting with a car suspension service at the earliest.

If every bump on the road starts to feel like the turn of a rollercoaster, it could be a sign that the vehicle’s suspension system is failing to absorb shocks effectively. A well-functioning suspension ensures your ride is smooth, absorbing bumps and vibrations along the way. A rough ride may imply a worn-out, damaged, or malfunctioning component in the suspension system.

Sometimes, a worn-out or damaged suspension can cause the car to break down on the road. If your car appears to be drifting to one side on its own, it means the suspension system is not providing the kind of support that it should. Ignoring this sign is not only dangerous for the driver and passengers but also for other vehicles. It can also lead to uneven tyre wear as well as steering & handling issues. To prevent the risk of an accident, it’s important to heed this sign and get a car suspension repair.

Among many other things, the suspension is also responsible for maintaining the alignment of your tyres to keep them from wearing unevenly. So, if you notice that the wheels are misaligned, prematurely worn out, or have random bald patches, it might be time to get your suspension checked. Also, if you haven’t rotated the tyres, this issue may arise occasionally. However, if that’s not the case, it may necessitate car suspension replacement.

The suspension system runs on fluids like hydraulic oil or power steering fluid to operate smoothly. If you find drops of oil on the ground underneath your car, it may indicate a fluid leak in the suspension. This can be due to damaged shock absorbers; the only effective solution is to visit the suspension service centre for repair. Overlooking a leaky suspension can compromise the performance of other parts of the vehicle too. Also, it might lead to a litany of expensive repairs and safety issues down the line.

Ideally, applying the brakes should keep the vehicle level steady. However, if it begins to dip forward, the suspension system might be the culprit. This significantly increases the risk of driving, making it hard for you to stop quickly and safely. Known as “nosediving”, this phenomenon becomes concerning when it isn’t just the result of inertia but is much more pronounced. In this case, you might need to get the shock absorbers replaced at a car suspension service.

One of the primary roles of the suspension system is to provide a stable platform for steering so that the driver has complete control over the vehicle’s direction. If steering your car has become difficult, it might be the result of faulty suspension components.

Your car spends an amount of time on the road, safely porting you across gravelly roads and speed bumps. Due to this, it is natural for the suspension system to suffer some damage in the process. Keeping these signs in mind will help you avoid risks and get your vehicle the servicing it needs to remain secure and efficient over a long time.

In case you’ve noticed one or more of these warnings already, it’s time to call the qualified professionals at Dantrans Automotive. We provide all essential car suspension services under one roof and have become one of the most trusted names in the city. To book a consultation, call us on 0418 271 177 or email us at [email protected].