4 Signs Of Common Suspension Problems, Explained By The Experts At Archer Volkswagen In Houston
How can a vehicle that weighs more than two tons sit comfortably on four little air-filled rubber tires? That's thanks to the suspension! As you drive down the road, the suspension keeps the wheels planted firmly on the ground. It also isolates you from bumps and imperfections in the road -- while the wheels jump up and down, the suspension absorbs this movement, keeping the cabin still and quiet. Today's modern cars feature sophisticated suspension setups that can provide both added comfort on long journeys and improved handling performance.
If the quality of your vehicle's ride has started to suffer, you might need suspension repair. Here are four signs that you might have bad suspension parts on your ride that need to be replaced. Fortunately, we can fix a bad suspension at the Archer VW service center. We'll use quality OEM parts so your Volkswagen retains or regains the smooth, quiet ride it had when it first rolled off the assembly line.
4. Uncomfortable Ride
The suspension, along with your wheels and tires, are the key elements in your vehicle's ride quality. If you notice that you feel more bumps, or speed bumps and potholes are more uncomfortable than they used to be, you likely have suspension problems.
However, suspension system wear can happen slowly over time. You might be getting acclimated to a bumpier ride without realizing it! So be sure to keep an eye out for all the signs of a worn suspension. However, if the quality of your vehicle's ride changes dramatically, that's something you're likely to notice right away. That means it's time for suspension service at the Archer VW service department.
3. Body Lean & Diving
When you brake hard to slow yourself down quickly, the weight of the vehicle (and everything inside, including cargo and passengers) will shift forward. The harder you break, the more profound this effect is. The suspension is designed to keep the car level, even under heavy braking and acceleration. If the nose of the vehicle dives forward when you break hard, then bounces for a few moments after you come to a stop, that tells us you've most likely got worn shocks and/or struts. Another example of this is a car that rolls dramatically from side to side when cornering, This can also cause you to lose handling control under heavy braking -- a dangerous situation.
If your suspension isn't keeping your car level as you accelerate, brake and turn, you'll want your suspension checked out right away.
2. Car Sits Low On One Corner Or Side
Some suspension problems can be so severe that you don't even need to get behind the wheel to find them. A modern car should sit level with the ground wherever it's parked. If your vehicle sits low at one corner, there could be damaged springs or shocks at that wheel. A car that sits low at one corner indicates that the suspension system at that wheel isn't able to properly support its share of the vehicle's weight. This can cause poor handling and an uncomfortable ride.
1. Uneven Tire Wear
The suspension system on your car can have a direct effect on how your tires are wearing. When it's working properly, it keeps your tires firmly planted on the ground, with the weight spread evenly across each tire's entire contact patch. A damaged suspension can cause premature, uneven tire wear -- and that can mean you'll need to buy new tires long before you otherwise would. You should periodically inspect your tires to see if the tread wear is taking place evenly across the whole tire, or if only one side is being rapidly worn down. If that's the case, you'll want to have your suspension system serviced to keep your tires in good shape for as long as possible.
To maintain the ride quality and performance of your Volkswagen, head to Archer VW for suspension service if you notice any of the problems listed above!
