Healthy Vehicles, Happy Drivers: Maintaining Your Vehicle’s Suspension System

You might be getting your regular oil changes, keeping up on your tire maintenance, and addressing your vehicle’s needs when a warning light goes off. However, are you really paying close attention to and taking care of your vehicle’s holistic maintenance needs? There’s a lot more that goes into vehicle maintenance than just oil changes, but a lot of people don’t know what those things are, how to look for them, or how to address them. If you stop in for auto repair near Snellville, we’re happy to take a look at your vehicle and let you know what maintenance is required. But we also want you to be self-sufficient so you can identify potential issues when warning signs start to fire. One of the most important and most overlooked components of successful vehicle maintenance is keeping up with your vehicle’s suspension maintenance. We thought it might be helpful to our Snellville drivers if we provided some education on your suspension system, what it is, warning signs to look out for, and the basics of maintenance. By the end, you might just be an expert on suspension systems.

What Is a Suspension System?

“Suspension” is one of those words you’ll often read or hear when researching a vehicle, visiting the autobody shop, or talking to a car enthusiast. But if you, yourself, are not a car enthusiast, you may often wonder what that word actually means. In its truest form, a suspension system’s job is to optimize the traction between the tires and the road. In practice, though, you experience it more directly pertaining to your ride experience. 

In short, the suspension system’s job is to make your ride smooth, even with all the bumps the road may bring. It’s made up of a combination of shock absorbers and coil springs, which, as you can imagine, absorb the impacts that come with the ups and downs of driving. In its simplest form, the suspension system takes the hit so that you don’t have to. There are several different types of suspension systems, and they are not all the same from one vehicle to another. Suspension needs are certainly different in a sedan than they are in an off-road vehicle, for example. 

There are two main types of suspension: dependent and independent. While the names may not be intuitive at first, they make a lot of sense once you understand the meaning. Dependent suspension operates via axles that connect the wheels on either side of the car together. The sharing of friction makes dependent suspension ideal for off-roading as the terrain is more uneven, and the vehicle will be able to distribute that friction better. You may have guessed by now that independent suspension is the opposite, in which each wheel has its own individual suspension, and friction is not shared. This is more fitting for a sedan or a vehicle that won’t encounter rough terrain. With suspension defined, what are the signs to watch out for as you monitor your suspension system’s health?

Monitoring Your Suspension System’s Health: Warning Signs

Your suspension system could be degrading without you even realizing it. If your vehicle is new, chances are that you’re doing just fine. However, those driving used or slightly older vehicles will want to pay close attention. 

You don’t necessarily need to have a mechanic’s eye when it comes to monitoring your vehicle’s suspension health. The first and most obvious warning sign does not require you to check on anything at all. In fact, you’ll notice it without even thinking about checking your suspension system. If your ride starts to feel bumpier or less smooth, that’s a great and easy way of identifying that it’s time for some suspension maintenance. As we said, the suspension system’s job is to make your ride smooth and absorb the shock. If that’s not happening, your suspension system must be checked and repaired. 

You can also identify your vehicle’s suspension health while you check your tires’ health. The suspension system is designed to optimize friction between the tires and the road, so if you notice unusual wear on your tires, that’s typically a sign that friction is not being optimized. The issue may lie in the suspension system rather than the tires themselves.

Another common sign of an unhealthy suspension is the vehicle veering to one side of the road while driving. If you start to feel like the vehicle doesn’t want to stay straight, there’s likely an issue with the shock absorbers, causing instability. As opposed to other, more hidden vehicle components, the vehicle will typically let you know if the suspension is unhealthy. If you closely monitor the quality of how well your vehicle drives, you’ll likely notice these warning signs. Anything that seems out of the ordinary, such as vibration, bumpiness, or unexpected veering, is typically a sign that it’s time to bring in the vehicle to have the suspension checked. While it may feel like a hassle at the moment, it will pay off in the future.

Your Vehicle’s Future: The Importance of Maintaining Your Suspension System

There are several reasons why it’s highly important to stay up to date on your vehicle’s suspension maintenance. First and foremost is your own comfort. Nobody wants to be constantly driving or riding in a bumpy, rough-riding vehicle full of uncomfortable vibrations. We want our Snellville drivers to enjoy their time in the car, and a healthy suspension system is one of the most important components of ensuring that comfort. Moreover, your vehicle’s long-term health depends on a healthy suspension system. If the suspension isn’t working properly, there’s a much higher chance that a bump or a dip in the road will shock the entire vehicle as much as it shocks you, potentially causing damage to its inner workings. 

Just like our bodies, the inner workings of cars are very interconnected. If one piece is dysfunctional, it won’t take long before other pieces start to become dysfunctional, and then you have a dysfunctional vehicle. However, going in to have potential issues checked on before they become serious issues guarantees that your vehicle stays healthy for the long haul. The money you spend on suspension maintenance right now will be far less than the money you spend on a new vehicle because of significant damage due to inadequate suspension. Healthy suspension systems make for healthy cars, and healthy cars make for happy drivers.

Servicing Your Vehicle’s Suspension System at Loganville Ford

By now, you likely see the importance and necessity of keeping your vehicle’s suspension system well-maintained. However, actually making that happen can be the hard part. Loganville Ford is here to make suspension maintenance easy for you. We have a world-class team of factory-trained professionals who know all different types of vehicles like the backs of their hands. We want all of our Snellville drivers to have well-maintained vehicles, and we’re happy and excited to serve anyone who comes to our garage, regardless of what they drive. If you think it’s time for somebody to take a look at your suspension system, give us a call, and we’ll get you in for a check-up.