The 411 on car suspension

Throughout your driving life you probably have heard the term car suspension thrown around, but do you know what this part of your vehicle is and what it does? If not, Toyota of Orlando is here to clear the air and give you the rundown on your suspension system and how to know when it’s time to get it repaired. 

A car’s suspension is very important to the overall quality of a vehicle’s drive. This system is responsible for attaching your vehicle to its wheels, thus determining the handling quality of your ride. A good suspension is essential for proper stopping, steering, and stability. Your suspension is in charge of alleviating the impact on vital parts of your vehicle that stem from rough driving. Any time you hit potholes, bumps, or objects on the road your suspension system absorbs the impact and helps you maintain control. 

The symptoms of car suspension problems

A car’s suspension is composed of multiple joints and pivot points that permit your wheels to handle bumps, up and down movements, and turns while steering. All of these complex parts simply wear out over time. When this wearing occurs the parts of your car suspension don’t come together as they should. This will cause your steering and handling to feel loose and your tires to wear unevenly.  As you can see it is very important to know the signs of when it’s time for this kind of maintenance. The main indicators of necessary suspension repair are:

• Excessive swaying: Is your Orlando Toyota swaying significantly to the left or right when making sharp turns? Does your vehicle lean far back when you press the gas pedal? This means your suspension could be worn down and needs immediate attention.

• Uneven tire wear: If the wear on your tires seems to be uneven this could be an indicator that your car suspension isn’t distributing weight onto your tires evenly.

• Dipped corner: If all of your tires are properly inflated but one side of your vehicle appears to be dipped down farther than the other then you have a suspension issue. When this system wears down on one side it will make your car look lop-sided.

• Oily shocks: Take a peek under your vehicle. If your shocks have any oil residue or grease on them, this means they are leaking fluid and need to be replaced.  

• A rough or bumpy performance: If your car is bumping up and down as if you’re off roading then this typically means your suspension is on its way downhill. A good way to double check this is the “bounce test”. Do this by pressing down on the hood of your vehicle. A car with a good suspension will typically bounce once and then return to its resting position. However, a vehicle with a worn suspension will bounce three to four times. 

Toyota of Orlando can help
 

As you can see, there are several easily recognized signals to tell you when it’s time to give your car's suspension some attention. Our Orlando auto service techs recommend that you keep an eye out for these signs. Taking heed of these warnings will help you save a pretty penny in the future. After all, you don’t want to wear down new tires early just because of an ignored suspension problem. 

Next time your car experiences any of these symptoms hit the nail on the head and come on into Toyota of Orlando. We are open seven days at 3575 Vineland Road just off of I-4. Call us at (407) 298-4500 to schedule your appointment today!