Common Symptoms of Suspension Issues

Your suspension system is responsible for absorbing energy between the road’s surface and the vehicle’s chassis. Not only does this provide you and your passengers with a smooth and comfortable ride, but it also keeps your tires in contact with the road over uneven road surfaces and during turning. 

Suspension systems consist of various components each contributing a specific purpose to the whole system. These components rely on each other to operate properly, as a single misaligned or failed part can throw off the entire suspension setup. 

What Makes Up Your Suspension?

Modern suspension systems are made up of hundreds of individual components, some of the most important being the shocks and springs that absorb energy from road impacts. These components are likely what comes to mind when you think of suspension, as these shock absorbers take the brunt of the force from the road’s surface. 

Other critical components like the bushings, bearings, and joints allow for parts like the sway bars to flex and articulate independently with the wheels. 

The suspension system overlaps significantly with the steering system, which relies on the proper alignment of the camber, caster, and toe angles to keep the wheels pointing perfectly straight.

Symptoms of Suspension Issues

While you likely won’t give your suspension system much thought when all the components are operating properly, however, it’s often quite difficult to miss the signs of a failure. Common symptoms of suspension system failures include:

Bouncy/Rough Ride

If you feel your vehicle “bouncing” over each and every bump on the road surface rather than absorbing them, you may be experiencing a failure of a shock, strut, or spring. Damaged energy-absorbing components like these will not be able to properly disperse the energy from road impacts, and in turn, may transfer that force to the vehicle’s chassis. 

Failing shocks or struts may also emit a squeaking noise when going over speedbumps or potholes, warning you that they require replacement.

Vehicle Pulling to Side

If your vehicle pulls to one side despite the steering wheel being straight, you may have a damaged or misaligned component within your suspension system. Your vehicle’s wheel alignment is heavily dependent on the condition of the suspension, as a single misaligned or broken component may cause the entire system to shift.

While a wheel alignment service from a trusted professional will return any misaligned components back to the proper angle, a failed suspension component will require service and replacement.

If you’ve recently hit a pothole, speed bump, or curb with one of your wheels, there’s a chance the impact has shifted the alignment of important components. You should also have your wheels re-aligned after replacing your tires or suspension components, as the alignment will need to be adjusted accordingly. 

Vehicle Dips While Braking

Another telltale sign of issues within your suspension system is excessive dipping or diving while braking. This occurs when braking shifts the weight’s momentum from the rear of the vehicle to the front, causing the nose of the vehicle to dive forward. 

Usually, the front suspension will resist this force and keep the vehicle level, however, a faulty component such as a shock or strut may allow for this momentum to push down the front of the car. 

Vehicle Feels Lopsided

If you believe your vehicle feels lower on one side or corner, it may be due to a faulty suspension component on that portion of the vehicle. Our suspension system doesn’t only keep the ride smooth, it supports the weight of everything above the suspension. When a load-bearing suspension part such as a strut fails, that corner of the vehicle may not be supported as well as the others, causing the vehicle to lean to that side. 

Suspension Services in Naperville

If you’re experiencing any of the above symptoms, or some other issue with your suspension, trust the expert technicians at Becker Service Center in Naperville, IL. Our team has extensive experience servicing the suspension and steering systems of many makes and models. Give us a call or schedule online with us today!