How does a vehicle’s suspension system work?

Does your car bounce when you hit a pothole? Or perhaps you’ve noticed your vehicle pulls to one side or the other as you drive. You may have even noticed uneven tire wear on your vehicle. If you’ve noticed your vehicle rides rougher than it used to, it’s time to take your vehicle to a qualified service center for shock and suspension evaluation and repair.

How Does the Suspension System on Your Car Work?

Your vehicle’s suspension system consists of three major parts: shocks, struts, and springs. Each component then has its own job to do to keep your ride smooth and safe.

Shock absorbers do exactly what their name implies. They reduce the shock to your ride when you hit potholes and other dangers on the road. The shock absorbers absorb the energy from the springs and keep the vehicle from bouncing up and down when you hit a pothole or other danger while driving.

Struts, which are attached to the frame of your vehicle, keep the shocks in place so they can keep doing their job. The struts tend to be more expensive to replace than your shock absorbers, but they also tend to last longer.

Springs work with the shocks and struts to transfer the energy from hitting road hazards into a smooth ride that is also safer for you and your passengers. All these components work together when each component is in good working order.

As with other parts of your vehicle, with time and use, the components of your suspension system will wear down and can fail. You should have your mechanic check each of these components during regularly scheduled preventative maintenance appointments. Failure of any of the parts of your suspension system can lead to misaligned wheels, excessive and/or uneven tire wear, and problems with steering and braking.

Your suspension system is not a place to think, “if it’s not broken, don’t fix it,” as you might with some other small failures on your vehicle. Instead, you should take your vehicle to a qualified service center like Cooper’s Auto Repair and Services in Tacoma, WA, and have their qualified technicians check your suspension system for repair or replacement. Give them a call and make an appointment today.