Today’s vehicles offer an exceptionally smooth ride over even the most demanding of surfaces. Most of this is down to the suspension system, which not only makes journeys less bumpy but also contributes to safety by making the car easier and more predictable to control.
But even the most advanced suspensions can fail from time to time. Spotting the early warning signs means the problem will usually be much cheaper and easier to fix, and here are the five key points to look out for.
1) Uneven Tire Wear: A Key Warning Sign of Suspension Failure
When parts of the suspension are working less well than others, different tires will be under different levels of pressure as they support the unbalanced weight of the vehicle. This means some tires will wear out more quickly than others thanks to increased friction, which can eventually have an impact on the safe handling of the car.
2) Drifting to the Side
If your car tends to drift sideways without the steering wheel being turned, it’s likely that an out-of-line suspension is forcing the wheels slightly off a straight angle. There are a few other potential causes of this, such as incorrectly inflated tires or badly aligned wheels, but booking a suspension check is a sensible way to start identifying the culprit.
3) Leaning Forward or Backward
Suspension can be unbalanced from front to rear as well as from side to side. This can show up as the front end of the car leaning forward and downward when braking, or rearing upward slightly when you press hard on the gas pedal.
4) Spotty Leaks
If you notice signs of spotty leaks on your garage floor or driveway, failing shock absorbers in the suspension could be the cause. This is particularly likely when the spots are around the wheel areas, indicating a potential leak in the shocks’ seals.
5) Difficulties Steering
Lastly, while a good suspension delivers a smooth and comfortable drive, a badly performing one can make any vehicle extremely difficult to control. In particular, you might notice increased amounts of understeer or oversteer, braking can be more sluggish and pull to the side, and strong acceleration can cause bounciness and judder. Any problems of this kind should be checked out without delay before they can threaten the safety of you, your passengers, and other drivers.
All of these problems can be fixed fairly easily if you spot them before they develop into serious issues, so book an inspection as soon as possible after noticing any warning signs appearing in your drive.
