Your car, truck, or SUV’s suspension is crucial to the handling of the vehicle. As such, Central Auto Care can inspect the suspension annually to make sure it is in good shape. Generally, the suspension doesn’t need work until you have put about 90,000 kilometres on the odometer. This is the point at which the shocks and struts wear out and need to be replaced. More on this below.
Pulling to the Side
Before we start talking about the shocks and struts, let’s talk about your wheel alignment. If you are having difficulties keeping your vehicle heading straight because it drifts sideways, your wheels are not aligned. There are several different ways in which the wheels must be aligned in order for the automobile to head straight automatically.
A Very Bumpy Ride
Now let’s talk about the shocks and struts. One sign that they need to be replaced is an extremely bumpy ride in your automobile. This is a sign that the struts and shocks are no longer able to absorb the uneven pavement over which you drive. Replacing them solves this problem.
Momentum Motion
When the struts and shocks wear out, you will also start to feel the momentum of your vehicle. In other words, the body of your automobile will move while you are driving. One example of this is the automobile lurching forward when you press down on the brake pedal to apply the brakes.
Oily Shocks and Struts
Finally, the shocks and struts have seals that keep the fluid inside of them in place. As they get older, the seals will crack and they will start to leak an oily substance. If you reach up behind your wheels and touch the shocks and struts and feel that they are oily, they need to be replaced.
Low-Sitting Corner
Always take a careful look at your automobile when it is parked on level pavement. You want to make sure that all four corners are even. If one corner of the vehicle is sitting lower than the others, you have a suspension spring that is broken on that particular wheel.
Difficulty Steering
Finally, your vehicle’s suspension will tell you that it is going bad if you have problems steering the automobile. This can be an indication of an issue with the steering system or a cracked axle.
Call Central Auto Care in Okotoks, AB, today to schedule an appointment for your vehicle if you believe the suspension needs maintenance or repair.