Common Car Suspension Problems

Your car suspension system comprises components that work together to maintain the vehicle’s stability and alignment by ensuring your vehicle’s tires maintain a balanced grip on the road surface while you are driving.

NOTE: Our auto service shop in Cambridge Ontario is prepared to assist with auto suspension service and repair services, provided by our experienced, professional and certified auto mechanics.

A car’s suspension system is made of parts that work together and parts that work with parts in other systems, such as the steering system. These suspension system parts include shock absorbers, springs, struts, and ball joints. They work together to ensure that your vehicle always responds correctly to the steering system. This helps your car maintain stability and grip while cornering, accelerating, and braking. It also prevents a loss of control if you need to swerve suddenly, improving handling and control in all conditions and on all road surfaces.

A well-maintained and perfectly functioning suspension system is crucial for safety. If your suspension system is not working properly, if any parts are damaged or worn, your vehicle is no longer safe to drive. Suspension issues are one of the most common car problems. Luckily, it is easy to tell when a part of a car suspension system fails. Look out for the following steering problems and other signs of suspension damage.

Car Pulling to One Side

One of the most common indicators of suspension problems is your car pulling to one side. This usually indicates that your wheel alignment is out.
However, this could be due to other problems with your suspension system. A problem with any of your vehicle’s suspension system parts, such as damage to springs, joints, bearings, or struts, will lead to a loss of alignment and your car pulling to one side.
If your car wheels are not aligned, it could also indicate a problem with the suspension system. Your wheels depend on the suspension system’s camber and caster angles to maintain alignment.

Dipping When You Brake

Another common indicator of suspension problems is your car ‘dipping’ on braking. However, this may seem like a problem with the braking system (and can be) your vehicle dipping or nosediving when you brake is often due to faulty shocks, struts, or springs in your suspension system.

If your car starts dipping when you brake, it is crucial you get your car suspension and braking system checked immediately. Failing to do so can quickly lead to a dangerous loss of control on braking, steering issues, breakage of the damaged or worn part, and damage to other parts of your suspension and braking systems.

Car Bouncing

Bouncing is also an indicator of faults or worn parts in your vehicle’s suspension system.

The most common reason for car bouncing is worn shocks. Shock absorbers should be checked regularly and replaced as soon as they start to show wear and tear and loss of optimal functionality. Bouncing is more than uncomfortable for occupants of the car; it indicates a loss of stability and grip that could lead to a loss of control over the vehicle.

Steering Issues

Suspension problems that cause loss of alignment can result in steering issues – directly with loss of steering control with the steering wheel and through uneven wear and tear on tires.
Difficult steering, especially at low speeds, can be caused by damage to the suspension system’s ball joints. Ball joints connect the steering knuckles to the control arms. If ball joints fail, this can cause the steering system to disconnect completely.
In general, any issue with suspension system parts will impact steering, overall handling, and the stability of the vehicle.

How to Fix Suspension Problems

If you experience any of the above symptoms of problems with your car’s suspension system, you urgently need to take your vehicle for an inspection of your suspension system and wheel alignment. Your car mechanic will be able to help you with common suspension problems.

However, if you or your auto repair center suspect that there may be other issues besides worn shocks or springs, they will do diagnostic tests on your car’s suspension and related systems to pin down the exact array of issues and what suspension system parts need to be replaced.

Don’t wait if you suspect suspension problems with your car. Book an appointment for a suspension system check and diagnostics. Contact our team of auto repair specialists at Special Interest Automobiles in Cambridge.