How To Keep Your Suspension System Protected
Maintaining your steering and suspension systems is vital to the safety of you and your passengers, as even less severe suspension issues can lead to harsh jolts and decreased handling ability. You should never continue driving a vehicle you suspect has a faulty suspension system, as it may lead to dangerous conditions. It’s important to have yours inspected by a trusted repair facility. You can even take preventive steps on your own to protect your suspension system.
Tips For Protecting Your Suspension System:
Inspect Tires Regularly
Tires are the first point of contact between your car and the road. Being constantly used tires are bound to wear over time, it’s best to catch it early as possible. Driving with worn-out or poorly inflated tires can put the suspension system under unnecessary stress. Make sure to regularly rotate your tires, check tire pressure, and look for wear and tear.
Get Regular Suspension System Inspections
Routine checkers by a professional mechanic can catch suspension issues early. Expect the mechanic to inspect for damaged bushings, loose or broken components.
Drive Responsibly
Steering clear of curbs, avoiding potholes, dodging road debris, and slowing down on rough roads can help your suspension system’s overall health in the long run.
Avoid Overloading Your Vehicle
Every car has a maximum load capacity listed in its manual. Overloading your car can overwork the suspension system, leading to premature wear and damage. To prevent this, it’s recommended that you stick to recommended weight limits and distribute weight evenly when carrying heavy items.
Replace worn components promptly
Over time, suspension parts are bound to wear out, and delaying repair can lead to much bigger problems. Keep an eye out for leaking shocks or struts, noisy suspension, or poor handling. These could all be signs of worn components needing replacement.
Keep Suspension Clean
Make sure to wash your car regularly and apply a protective coating to prevent metal parts from corrosion and wear.
Get a Wheel Alignment
Wheel alignments are crucial for a fully functioning suspension system. A misaligned wheel can cause unwanted stress on the suspension system. Scheduling routine wheel alignments can help reduce wear and tear on your tires and suspension system.
Replace Suspension Fluids
Some suspension systems, like air or hydraulic setups, rely on fluids to operate properly, and over time, these fluids can degrade, worsening performance. Check your owner’s manual for the recommended service interval and have the fluids replaced as needed.
Pay Attention to Warning Signs
When there’s something wrong with your vehicle, signs will almost always appear. Don’t ignore bumpy rides, nose diving, understeering, braking, or an uneven stance.
Steering and Suspension Experts, Austin, TX
The steering and suspension experts at Edgestone Automotive in Austin, TX, have years of experience working on a variety of suspension systems on all makes and models. No matter the issue you’re experiencing, don’t let it continue to worsen. Trust your vehicle to the friendly and experienced team at Edgestone Automotive. Give us a call or schedule online today!