18/08/2019
Is Braking Dangerous when Suspension Systems are Suspect?
When driving our vehicles, how much attention are we paying to unusual sounds and symptoms?
Most of us are probably in noisy traffic most of the time, hurrying to destinations, usually with our radio on or, in conversation with passengers or, in discussions on a cellular device.
Pay attention to how vehicles handle, the sounds they make and have problems checked immediately they arise.
When Is It Time for Suspension Repairs and Why Replace Shocks and Struts?
Every moving part of every car has regular wear and tear and requires regular inspection and maintenance. Suspension maintenance and repairs are just as important as any other maintenance items, like oil changes or brakes. If we ignore strange symptoms or problems with our vehicles and allow them to fester, we end up with an increasing number of repairs that usually require a lot more money to fix.
Improved handling, shorter stopping distances and a smoother ride are benefits we recognise from changing struts. Gas or air shock absorbers improve ride quality by limiting suspension movement. They also have a direct effect on handling and braking. Worn shocks can make for an uncomfortable ride, but, more importantly, they can compromise our ability to control a vehicle, so it's important to keep shocks in shape.
Symptoms of a bad or failing suspension are many and various and will take too long to discuss here. Suffice to say there are many things to look for when determining whether our suspension system is failing in some way or needs repair. Since the suspension supports the entire weight of any vehicle, it affects so many other systems that influence the control we have over our vehicles. It is important to be aware of symptoms to determine what individual parts may be ailing or, whether the system at large is failing.
If your car sits low or nose dives, is difficult to steer, drifts or pulls to one side, wears tyres unevenly, which then becomes another potential cause of car drifting or pulling or, if the car ride is not smooth, the suspension is likely to be damaged, so get it fixed to avoid bigger issues.
Braking transfers the weight of a vehicle to the front, and if shocks and/ or struts are worn out, the car’s nose tends to dive down much more than we’re used to. We’ll notice too, the car leans back when accelerated, as the weight of the car is transferred to the rear. When we take a corner, the car leans excessively to one side. It may also not sit or travel level, but lean on one side.
How Often Should We Change Shocks?
In general, air shock absorbers should be inspected at every service or, at least every 20,000 kilometres. Signs that our shocks may need attention include:
• Diving when braking heavily or suddenly
• Wandering on the highway
• Hitting bumps and hearing a hard knock and feeling their impact
• Leaking shock fluid
A new set of shocks for most vehicles is generally cheaper than a set of tyres.
Suspension wear items absorb countless bumps in roads, so suspension checks should happen at every oil change. Replacing struts on a vehicle is recommended every 75,000 kilometres.
Besides the horrendous possibility of a loss of life or lives, other concomitant consequences of not changing shocks, besides impaired or dangerous braking, is a negative effect on insurance claims in the event of accidents where faulty suspension is the attributable cause.
If a vehicle’s suspension has issues, it can be difficult to diagnose the actual cause. Bad or worn shocks, struts, springs, tie rods or ball joints can cause costly damage to vehicles and make them unsafe to drive.
Whenever there are any concerns, questions or needs around your motoring pleasure, give Sabre Motors a call on 0117922154 to experience ‘a better outcome’ and, if you have an emergency, contact Dave on 0828819077 or Email: [email protected]
