Suspension Systems

Let’s talk about your suspension system – you know, the system that connects your wheels to your vehicle, controls your handling and delivers a good ride.  Your suspension is critical for proper steering, stopping and stability. Hey, it’s a rough world out there – every time you hit a pothole, a bump or an object in the road, your suspension system absorbs the impact and maintains control.

As you can imagine, your suspension has a lot of joints and pivot points that allow your wheels to move up and down over bumps and to turn as you steer.  These parts include ball joints, tie rod ends, the pitman, idler arms and the control arm bushing.  They simply wear out over time.  When a joint or other part is worn, the suspension parts don’t fit together as tightly as they should.  Handling and steering have a loose feel and you may hear strange noises.  Your tires will wear unevenly because they’re bouncing down the road a little off kilter.

A loose joint has the effect of stressing other suspension components so they wear out faster than they should.  Sometimes a suspension part can be bent from hitting a rock or curb or by slamming into a big pothole. When your service advisor inspects your vehicle, he’ll look for signs of suspension problems: things like uneven tire wear, excessive play in suspension components and other visible damage.  He can replace the worn or damaged parts and restore safe handling.

It’s a great idea to take care of these problems right away before they become more expensive to repair.  And nobody likes to see a tire that should last for several years get worn out in a matter of months because of a bad suspension part. Let us help you keep your vehicle operating safely.  And saving some money on repairs and tire replacement is a good thing too.