Suspension

Car suspension symptoms can include excessive bouncing and swaying, even at low speeds. The car may not sit level and may not handle well. Sometimes these symptoms may be subtle and not become evident until you are in a situation requiring a quick maneuver to avoid a collision.

Worn shocks can increase the time and distance it takes to stop your car in an emergency situation adding on average 10% to your stopping distance. At any speed that 10% can make a big difference in your ability to avoid and accident.

Problems Caused by Worn Suspension Parts

At highway speeds, bumps in the road convert forward energy to vertical energy. The springs of your suspension system must absorb this energy to keep your vehicle from lifting off the road and cause you to lose control. Your springs and shock absorbers wear out gradually over years and you may not notice a potential safety problem. This is why we recommend you check your suspension system every 30,000 to 40,000 miles.

A worn suspension does not absorb the bumps and low places in every road resulting in an uncomfortable ride and making it difficult to handle. When you need to steer quickly in order to avoid a hazard, your car may sway in the opposite direction from the turn, causing your inside wheels to lift from the pavement and making your car flip over.