Bumpy rides can be a lot of fun, provided you’re at an amusement park. If you’re in your car, it’s a lot less fun. Your vehicle’s suspension is supposed to protect you from excessive bumpiness, so if you’ve been experiencing more bumps lately, there could be something wrong with your suspension.
Suspension maintenance and checkups are preferable to accident damage repair. The longer you let a suspension issue go without inspection, the greater the chances of needing accident repair or even a full-body repair. But how does the suspension work? What goes into suspension maintenance? And how can that maintenance prevent auto body damage repair?
The suspension’s role in accident damage repair
Because the suspension absorbs impacts, it lessens the likelihood of your vehicle suffering and require accident damage repair. How your suspension performs affects how other systems and components in your vehicle behave, most notably you’re steering. That means an effective suspension system also reduces the probability of a collision and thus needing accident repair.
How the suspension works
Because the suspension is a system, it’s difficult for some to conceptualize how it works. A tire, steering wheel, or airbag are straightforward. A car repair technician will know details of each that the layperson doesn’t, but the basic concept is easy to grasp.
But as a system of components, the suspension is more complex. Most of us know that it absorbs shocks and helps a vehicle hold to the road and maintain corners, but how?
Suspension design
The suspension is part of a vehicle’s chassis. The chassis comprises:
- The frame: This is the structural, load-carrying framework that supports a vehicle’s engine and body, which are supported by the suspension
- The suspension system: This supports the mass of the vehicle and absorbs and dampens shock, helping to maintain tire contact with the surface of the road.
- The steering system: This enables the driver to guide the vehicle.
- The tires and wheels: These make motion possible by rolling on the road.
The springs
A suspension needs springs to function properly. There are four basic designs of springs in modern suspensions. These are:
- Coil springs
- Leaf springs
- Torsion bars
- Air springs
Dampers and shock absorbers
If a suspension foundation comprised only springs, you’d experience some very bumpy rides. Vehicles need a dampening structure to stop springs from bouncing at their natural frequency after going over a pothole or speed bump.
This is what shock absorbers are for. These control unwanted spring motion. They slow down and reduce the magnitude of vibrations by converting kinetic energy into heat and dissipating it through hydraulic fluid. Some suspensions also have struts, which are effectively shock absorbers inside a coil spring. These provide dampening and structural support.
Sway bars
Also known as anti-roll bars, sway bars can work in tandem with shock absorbers or struts to provide additional stability to a vehicle. It’s a metal rod that spans the entire axle and joins the sides of a suspension together.
Suspension checks
This just scratches the surface of the automobile suspensions. There are different models of suspensions, and they all function a bit differently. It’s important your suspension is in good shape to avoid accident damage repair. What should you know about suspension maintenance to avoid car repair?
Regularly inspect your suspension
It’s great to go to an auto repair shop for regular full-body inspections, including the suspension. But you can also check your suspension yourself. Just take a look around and check for visible damage or wear on shocks, struts, and ball joints. Also, look for leaking fluid around shocks and struts, which may indicate they need replacement.
Pay attention to ride quality
Sometimes we can prevent accident damage repair simply by being more attentive to our vehicles. If you notice excessive bouncing, nose-diving when braking, or just general rough rides, your shocks or struts may be worn out or damaged. Strange noises such as clunking, squeaking, or rattling over bumps might result from loose or worn suspension components.
Pay attention to wheel alignment
Misaligned wheels can cause uneven tire wear and poor handling. This inhibits your steering, so it’s a serious safety hazard that could result in accidents and accident repair. Get an alignment check annually or after hitting a pothole or curb.
Inspect your tires and maintain proper tire pressure
Suspension problems can cause uneven or excessive tire wear. If one or two tires are wearing out faster, go to an auto repair shop and get your suspension checked. The car repair technician may suggest a tire rotation or even a tire balancing to keep an even load on each tire. It’s best practice to keep tires inflated to the recommended PSI to reduce strain on suspension components.
Lubrication
An auto repair technician may decide to lubricate some suspension components, such as ball joints and tie rods.
Steering inspection
After an impact, the steering column and/or suspension might be compromised, so technicians often inspect these components as part of accident damage repair. Loose or worn tie rods, steering racks, or power steering issues can affect handling, so regular inspections can also help prevent bigger services, such as full-body repair.
Don’t ignore warning signs
Never ignore vehicle issues, hoping they’ll go away on their own. If it seems like your steering is off or you feel excessive vibrations or difficulty turning, visit an auto repair shop so a technician can inspect your steering and suspension.
If your car pulls to one side, bounces excessively, or has uneven ride height, it could be a suspension issue. In such instances, it’s always prudent to visit an auto body damage repair shop for an inspection.
