Your vehicle’s suspension gives you a smooth ride and helps you to haul loads in your truck or car. If you configure the suspension of a hotrod right, it means the difference between hooking up off the line or eating the other guy’s dust. The suspension also controls how your vehicle takes curves and helps to keep the body off the tires.
When you need a shop that knows how to make sure your daily driver’s suspension is the best that it can be, or you need special configurations for performance vehicles, drag racing, or something that will handle those monster tires on your off-road truck, Accelerate Auto Repair is the shop to work on your suspension system.
The Suspension System in a Nutshell
Roads might look smooth to you, but they’re not. The suspension smooths out the force of the tires hitting bumps, dips and potholes in the road, which makes the road feel smoother than it really is. The suspension system also makes a car easier to drive by making sure the car stays in contact with the road and the driver has control over the tires.
The suspension system uses springs, dampers and struts to provide comfort in the cabin and safety as you drive. The springs store the energy of the bump by compressing. The amount of energy a spring can compress depends on the type of spring and its size. A vehicle uses two types of springs, depending on the model: coil springs or leaf springs.
The springs can’t do all the work themselves. They’ll just keep bouncing if they don’t have a damper to convert the energy they absorb. Dampers – or shock absorbers – feature a piston, pressurized oil, and small holes. When the spring absorbs energy, it transfers it to the shock, which then forces the piston to move through the oil. The energy converts to heat energy, essentially “eating” the energy in the spring. When this happens, you won’t feel the bump in the cabin as long as the springs and shocks can overcome the size of the bump.
Struts are a combination of a coil spring and a shock and work the same way as coil-over shocks and leaf springs with separate shocks.
Types of Suspension
While vehicles have many types of suspension, they all work in the same basic way. However, some types of suspension provide more benefits for certain types of cars. Your vehicle’s manufacturer used the type of suspension it thought best for the type of vehicle you have.
Suspension types include double-wishbone suspension, MacPherson struts, solid-axle – including leaf springs, trailing control arm, and panhard rod. The various types provide various degrees of comfort and control. Some, such as MacPherson struts, are better suited to front-wheel drive vehicles, while double wishbone suspension is common on sports cars.
What Are Some Indications of Poor Suspension?
Recognizing signs of poor vehicle suspension is essential for safe driving. Watch out for excessive bouncing, uneven tire wear, or a nose-diving feeling when braking. Also, if your car drifts or pulls to one side, makes strange noises over bumps, or feels rough to drive, it could mean suspension problems. Lastly, look for a visibly tilted or sagging stance. If you notice any of these signs, it’s best to have Accelerate Auto Repair check your suspension promptly to ensure a smooth and safe ride.
How Often Should Your Vehicle’s Suspension be Checked?
Regularly checking your vehicle’s suspension is key to keeping your ride safe and smooth. It’s a good idea to have it inspected once a year or every 12,000 to 15,000 miles, depending on how much you drive and the road conditions. But if you notice any strange noises, uneven tire wear, or a bumpy ride, get it checked out right away. By catching problems early, you can prevent bigger issues and make sure your suspension keeps handling well.
Leave Your Vehicle’s Suspension to the Pros
At Accelerate Auto Repair, we perform a variety of common auto suspension repairs to keep your ride smooth and safe. Our skilled ASE Certified technicians specialize in coil spring replacement, ensuring your vehicle maintains proper ride height and stability. We also expertly handle shock absorber and strut replacement, crucial for absorbing bumps and maintaining control. Additionally, our precise wheel alignment services ensure even tire wear and optimal handling.
Reach Out Today
If your vehicle isn’t riding as smoothly as it should, contact Accelerate Auto Repair at (469) 501-5115 for an appointment to check, and if necessary, to repair your vehicle’s suspension.
