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How comfortable is your ride?

The suspension and shock absorbers are not only responsible for providing a comfortable ride, but they also play a vital role in ensuring the proper functioning of three crucial capabilities. These capabilities are of utmost importance, and the suspension and shock absorbers act as key components in their smooth operation.

The "Stopping, Steering and Stability" of your vehicle depend largely on the quality and condition of your shock absorbers and suspension system. A vehicle's suspension system is a crucial component that comprises a variety of parts, such as springs, shock absorbers, control arms, bushings, sway bars, ball joints, and struts. Essentially, the purpose of these components is to ensure that your vehicle's tyres maintain contact with the road, while also being able to carry loads - such as passengers - in a safe manner.

Stopping

When driving at 50km/h, having just one shock absorber that is worn out can make it take up to 2 metres longer for your car to come to a stop. Additionally, worn out control arm bushes, trailing arm bushes, and sway bar bushes can also negatively impact your vehicle's ability to stop efficiently. These components are meant to enhance the connection between your tires and the road, so when they are worn out, it becomes more difficult to stop your car in a safe and timely manner.

Steering

If the shock absorbers and suspension bushings in your car are worn out, your tires may lose their grip on the road, causing your car to behave unpredictably while turning. Additionally, this can impair the car's ability to stay centered on the road, affecting its steering in a significant way. It's crucial to replace these parts regularly to ensure a safe and smooth driving experience.

Stability

When the shock absorbers and bushings in your car are worn out, it can cause the car to sway excessively and roll around corners. This makes your car less stable and more difficult to control.

When parts of the suspension system begin to wear out it can begin to have negative effects on your tyres, causing them to wear down more on the inside and outside edges, as well as wearing down your brake assemblies unevenly.

In order to ensure the safety of yourself, your passengers, and other drivers on the road, it's important to take good care of your entire suspension system. By doing so, you'll also be able to save yourself money in the long run by avoiding the need for frequent tyre and brake replacements. Think of it as an investment in both your safety and your wallet.

Eight signs of suspension problems

  1. Experiencing a Pulsing or Vibration felt through the steering wheel
  2. You notice your vehicle is "cornering" poorly
  3. Your car tends to "rock and roll" over bumps
  4. The vehicle seems to have a tendency to veer in side winds
  5. A clunking sound is heard when you drive over bumps
  6. You can hear an otherwise unexplained rattling noise
  7. You notice you are experiencing unexplained or Uneven tyre wear
  8. The vehicle is bouncing, dipping and diving (Your bonnet dips when braking or slowing down)

Regular servicing and maintenance can help to identify faulty suspension components before they become a safety issue, but if you notice anything amiss, contact Avon Valley Tyre & Auto Service ASAP to get it checked out.

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