Signs Your Suspension is Failing & Other Symptoms of Car Noises

Diagnosing the most common suspension system failures

Your car’s suspension system is one of the major contributing factors behind a comfortable and stable ride. It takes in and absorbs the bumps in any road surface and allows for a reliable and harmless acceleration, braking and cornering. However, the suspension can quickly wear out over time and wreck your car’s balance and braking, making the ride harsher and dangerous. For this reason, it is necessary to diagnose any signs of suspension problems as shortly as possible. And while it may seem complicated, there are some simple things that you can watch out for, such as:

Weakened springs

Your car’s suspension can have a damaged or broken spring, which can make your car fall on one side. You can ascertain whether or not your car’s suspension is failing through a simple test. Simply settle your car on a even surface and rest all of your weight on either the front or the back of the car and notice how many times the car bounces before it stops. If the car keeps bouncing even after two or three times, there is likely a problem with its suspension.

Oiled shock absorbers

Whenever your car goes over cracks or any other imperfections in the road, its suspension system absorbs them by contracting and expanding the springs to any upward progress. The shock absorbers, with hydraulic fluid stored in them, then get rid of any movement left in the spring, holding the car from bouncing. The hydraulic fluid can sometimes flow out and smear the shock absorbers completely in grease, causing the entire suspension system to collapse. Just a look at the shock absorbers can help you identify if there is an oil leak that needs to be fixed.

Bald Tires

Just like suspension, your car tires gradually wear down with more use. A tire is considered bald whenever it reaches the point when there are only 1/16ths of an inch of tread left.  Driving on these tires is naturally very unsafe. You can use a professional gauge to measure the tread depth. Bald tires also lead to increased road noise detracting from your driving experience.

Damaged anti-roll bar

A broken anti-roll bar can cause your car to roll over during high-speed cornering or over road irregularities. Usually, the anti-roll bar, being simply a metal bar, does not break. However, there are plastic or rubber bushes on either side of the bar that can wear down over time. Ascertain whether or not there are any knocking or squeaking noises that occur when driving through corners and if you notice such noises, it is time to get the bushes replaced.

Your life is more valuable than anything and every time you drive with a failed suspension system, you risk it. Have the peace of mind that your life is safe and your rides are always fun with regular suspension upkeep.