You don’t have to be a professional mechanic to know when something is amiss with your car’s suspension. Knowing there’s an issue is the easy part—it’s diagnosing the cause of the problem that can be difficult. Making matters even more complicated is the fact that any number of parts that make up the suspension system—including springs, shocks, ball joints, struts and wheels—could be broken or failing. Ultimately, your car’s suspension system is what provides a smooth ride and gives you full control over the steering.
Most importantly, the suspension must be in good condition because it’s what supports the entire weight of your vehicle. Not sure how to tell whether your suspension is failing? Here are some signs you need to take your vehicle to your mechanic for suspension repair in Madison, TN.
Car doesn’t drive smoothly
If car rides are not smooth, the first thing you should look at is the suspension. Of course, a bumpy or rough ride could be attributed to low tire pressure, but that wouldn’t make every bump in the road more pronounced. There’s something you can do before taking it into the auto shop: the bounce test. To do this, park your car, put your weight on the front end, then release. If the car bounces up and down easily, you need new shocks and struts.
Car pulls to one side
Your vehicle should not drift or pull hard to one side when it’s traveling down a straight road. If it does, the problem could be in the tires, steering, brakes or suspension. While this is a difficult problem to diagnose, there are a couple things you can do:
- Check the tires: First, check the pressure in all the tires. Under-inflated tires can cause the car to drive oddly, like pulling itself to one side while in motion and leaving you to fight the steering wheel. Also remember to rotate your tires on a regular basis.
- Check the alignment: Driving on rough roads, hitting potholes or curbs or being in an accident can throw off car alignment. Poor alignment can cause uneven tire wear and a strange sensation in the steering wheel.
Car is hard to steer
A vehicle that suddenly becomes difficult to steer (particularly at low speeds) could have something wrong with the suspension. The steering is linked to the suspension, so they rely on each other to help you remain in control of your car. Keep in mind that a problem affecting your control of the vehicle could have to do with the suspension or something in the steering system itself.
Car sits low when parked
You might have a damaged or broken spring if one corner of your car appears to sit very low when it’s parked. Or, while driving, you may notice a clunking sound every time you go over a bump or make a turn. It’s possible that all of these things are happening because a spring is damaged and cannot support the weight of the vehicle.
Feel free to contact Madison Muffler & Auto Repair for more information about suspension repair in Madison, TN!