The primary function of your cars suspension and steering systems is to allow the wheels to move independently of the car, while keeping it "suspended" and stable. Any play or uncontrolled motion in these systems results in a deterioration of handling and accelerated tire wear. Vehicle alignment is closely tied to the condition of the suspension and steering systems.
Steering
Steering Systems
Worn or loose components affect the ability to control the toe angle, and may result in a loss of directional stability and accelerated tire wear. The main components of a Conventional system are:
Steering Gear Box
Center Link
Pitman Arm
Idler Arm
Tie Rods
The main components of a Rack and Pinion steering system are:
Rack and Pinion Assembly
Bellows Boots
Tie Rods
Suspension System
Worn or loose components affect the suspension systems ability to control motion and alignment angles, resulting in a deterioration of vehicle handling and stability, and accelerated tire wear. The main components of the suspension system are:
Control Arms
Ball Joints
Springs (Coil or Leaf)
Shock Absorbers
Struts
Schedule A Suspension Inspection At Yeck's Tire & Auto Repair
Today's Papillion car care article focuses on your suspension system. After many years and tens of thousands of miles, your car suspension system components do wear out, but how long that takes depends a lot on how you drive. As you can imagine, if most of your driving is on smooth Papillion highways, your shock absorbers will last a lot longer than if you do most of your driving on bumpy roads or hauling heavy loads.
In addition to just wearing out, Yeck's Tire & Auto Repair customers need to know that suspension components can be damaged in an accident or by a hard impact - like a pothole, hitting a curb or a rock in the road.
Because the life span of shocks can vary so widely, your car manufacturer and Yeck's Tire & Auto Repair recommend periodic inspections. During an inspection, your Papillion service technician will check for worn, broken or missing parts.
Signs that shocks or struts are wearing out: The tires may have a cupped wear pattern. This is from the shocks bouncing unevenly as you drive around Papillion. You may notice a floaty or drifting sensation when cornering. If the front of your car dives excessively when stopping, or rocks back and forth after you stopped, your shocks may be worn out. And if they are leaking fluid, it's definitely time to replace them.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, come into Yeck's Tire & Auto Repair for a suspension inspection. Same if you've been in an accident that involved one of your wheels. Worn or broken shocks can cause premature wear or failure on other car suspension parts such as ball joints and other steering components as well.
If your suspension actually fails, it could lead to a serious accident, so let us take care of your suspension components at Yeck's Tire & Auto Repair.
When you replace your shocks, it's usually a good idea to replace all four at the same time. That'll give you more even handling. Talk with your service advisor at Yeck's Tire & Auto Repair because you don't want a big difference between the performance of your shocks from wheel to wheel, and replacing all may be the safest bet.
Suspension
Let's talk about your suspension - you know, the system that connects your wheels to your vehicle, controls your handling and delivers a good ride as you cruise around Bellevue NE. Your suspension is critical for proper steering, stopping and stability.
Hey, it's a rough world out there in NE - every time you hit a pothole, a bump or an object in the road, your suspension system has to absorb the impact and maintain control.
As you can imagine, your suspension has a lot of joints and pivot points that allow your wheels to move up and down over bumps and to turn as you steer. These parts include ball joints, tie rod ends, the pitman, idler arms and the control arm bushing. They simply wear out over time.
When a joint or other part is worn the suspension parts don't fit together as tightly as they should. Handling and steering has a loose feel and you may hear strange noises. Your tires will wear unevenly because they're bouncing down the Bellevue NE road a little off kilter.
A loose joint has the effect of stressing other suspension components so they wear out faster than they should. Sometimes a suspension part can be bent from hitting a rock or curb or by slamming into a big pothole.
When your Bellevue NE service advisor at Yeck's Tire & Auto Repair inspects your vehicle, he'll look for signs of suspension problems: things like uneven tire wear, excessive play in suspension components and other visible damage. He can replace the worn or damaged parts and restore safe handling.