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Why Check
the Suspension?
The suspension holds the
vehicle to the wheels. As such, any defects in the
suspension system could jeopardize the roadworthiness of
your vehicle of your vehicle, making it unsafe to drive.
The best way to check your car’s
suspension system is to send it for a thorough inspection by
a professional mechanic. However, there are a few tests that
you can do to detect possible suspension problems at an
early stage. This way, problems can be rectified, before
they escalate into more serious (and more costly) damage.
Visual Check
Look at the car from a distance and check out for the
following conditions. Any one of these could indicate
possible suspension wear or detect:
- Is the car level equal at every wheels?
- Is it too low?
- Are the wheels standing upright?
Front and Rear Shock Absorbers
- Check for Leakage or Damage. The shock absorbers
must be dry and the shock’s boots must not be damaged.
Be sure to check all four shocks. If there is oil
leaking from the shock absorber or the boot is broken,
the leaky shocks must be replaced as soon as possible.
- Test the Shock Absorbers. Push down on each of the
corners. If the shock absorbers are in good condition,
the car will go down easily and spring back up smoothly
and slowly. The car should not bounce more than once or
twice.
Visible Parts
Look at the visible parts of the
suspension systems. These include stuff like bushings, ball
joints or steering linkages. The car should be inspected by
a mechanic if there are visible signs of cracks, broken
boots, damage, or anything that seems out of place.
Steering
In order to check the steering, quickly
turn the steering wheel to the left and right by a quarter
of a full circle. When you are doing this, there should not
be excessive free play or knocking noises. In the event that
the car has power steering, do the same thing with the
engine running. Check for leaks from the power steering as
well as the steering fluid level.
The Test Drive
When conducting the test drive, switch
off the radio, close all the windows and listen for noises.
However, be sure to check that the noise is not originating
from the glove compartment of the boot. Take the car over a
rough stretch of road. Any of the following could be
symptoms of suspension problems:
- Knocking sounds coming from the suspension.
- The car shakes or bounces.
- Steering is not smooth.
- The car pulls to one side.
Article contributed by AAM
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