Your car’s suspension plays an important role ensuring that your vehicle remains safely in contact with the road and shielding passengers from bone-crunching bumps. Because the suspension is so hardwearing, it is easy to forget about it, but being aware of what it does and how to spot potential problems could save you money in the long run.
When trouble comes knocking
If you notice a clanging, creaking or knocking from underneath your car, it could be a sign that you have a problem with your suspension. Once you notice the noise, be vigilant for it, and try to make note of when it happens (e.g. when you are on a bumpy road, or going over specific speed bumps), and where the noise seems to be coming from. This information will help your local mechanic to spot any problems when you take your car to be checked out. Keep an eye out for other signs of damaged suspension too, such as a bumpier ride, or your car pulling to one side.
What does suspension trouble mean for your car?
Damaged suspension doesn’t necessarily mean that your car is going to break down. However, because the suspension cushions your car (and you) from excessive bumps and jolts, damaged or faulty suspension could make other parts of your car more vulnerable. Because of this, suspension is one of the safety elements considered when your car goes for its MOT test; faulty suspension will fail.
Understanding the evidence
Different kinds of sounds could indicate different problems. If your car produces a clanging sound like metal hitting against metal when you go over bumps, it is a good sign that your rubber bushes have failed. These bushes join different parts of your suspension together; without them, those parts could be (and probably are) knocking against each other.
A more serious problem is if the clanking noise seems to increase in tempo as the car speeds up. This is a sign that there is a problem with your wheel bearing, brake rotor or a drive shaft.
Finally, if you hear a knocking sound when you go over particular bumps or take corners at particular angles, it is possible that you have a problem with your suspension struts.
Visual signs
As well as sounds and change in how the car drives and feels, it is sometimes possible to identify a suspension problem by looking at your vehicle. If your car appears to be lower on one corner or side, push it down at that spot and see if the car comes straight back up to its original position. If it bounces excessively, there is a strong possibility that you have a suspension problem.
If this is the case, contact your local garage or suspension specialist as soon as possible. You may not want to have to face the repair costs, but the damage that could be caused by ignoring the problem is likely to be significantly worse. For more advice, follow Trust A Garage on Facebook or X.