How to Extend the Lifespan of Your Car’s Suspension and Steering Systems
Fixing a car’s suspension or steering system can often cost a small fortune, but luckily many of the problems can be avoided, and the issues that do arise can be resolved without a trip to the dealership. Suspension and steering systems don’t fail overnight; they simply degrade slowly over time. If you know what to look for, however, you can catch these problems early before they become far more expensive to fix later on.
Start With What You Can See
Many suspension problems can be seen during a visual check before they cause any real trouble with your handling.
Most important are the rubber boots. Ball joints, tie rod ends, and CV joints are protected by rubber or neoprene boots meant to keep grease in and road dirt out. As soon as those boots get a crack or tear – even a small one – the joint starts taking in dirt and water, and once that gets inside, the bearing surface is compromised. Check under the car every few months, or any time it’s up on a lift, and look for splits, tears, or grease thrown out on nearby parts.
Control arm bushings are also worth a look. These rubber bushings rest between the suspension arms and the chassis. When they crack or collapse, you get knocks over bumps, loose handling, and drastically accelerated wear on every other part in the immediate vicinity, since nothing is being cushioned the way it was meant to.
Shocks can still be tested by the old bounce and push test. Just push down hard on each corner of the car and let go. If the body bounces more than once or twice, the shocks or struts are finished. Worn shocks not only make for a bad ride, they also extend your braking distances and reduce how well your tires can maintain contact with the road.
Tire Pressure and Alignment Do More Work Than People Realize
Proper tire pressure is your suspension’s first line of defense against stress. An underinflated tire deforms more on impact, passing more energy directly into the suspension, and wears unevenly in ways that tell you something’s wrong. Check your PSI monthly – not just whenever you happen to see the warning light come on.
Alignment is the elephant in the room. Annual alignment checks are an entirely reasonable baseline, but the more important rule is this: get your alignment checked immediately after any hard impact with a curb or pothole. A single hit can knock your geometry out of spec by enough to start wearing your tie rod ends and ball joints unevenly. You won’t feel it right away, but your tires will show it within a few thousand kilometres.
Uneven tire wear is one of the most reliable early warning signs in suspension maintenance. Feathering across the tread, wear on one edge only, or a cupped pattern across the width are all indicators that something in the suspension or alignment is off.
Choosing The Right Parts When Something Does Wear Out
Even if you do maintenance regularly, suspension and steering parts will eventually wear out. When you do have to replace them, the kind of parts you use is important. It’s not just about the price. It also impacts how well the fixed system will function.
Cheap no-name aftermarket parts usually don’t have the same level of precision as the original parts. This leads to inaccurate geometry, quicker deterioration, and sometimes even handling characteristics that are different from what the automobile was intended for. OEM parts are made to the exact original manufacturer’s standards.
If budget is a concern, using tested recycled OEM parts is a good alternative. A reputable auto recycler such as Tony’s Auto Wreckers can provide you with quality used parts from vehicles that have perfectly fine suspension and steering parts – the same as the original manufacturer’s, but for a fraction of the cost of new parts.
Drive Like The Roads Are Trying To Break Your Car
Because they are. Potholes and hard curb strikes cause more steering and suspension damage than anything else. Road damage costs drivers billions annually in avoidable repairs. The best car maintenance tips in the world won’t help much if you’re hitting every pothole at full speed.
Slow down before speed bumps – not during them. Braking while going over a bump compresses the suspension fully just as it takes the impact, which is the worst possible combination. Give yourself enough distance to slow down first, then release the brakes as you go over.
Fluid Maintenance Matters In Steering Too
Hydraulic power steering systems rely on clean fluid to keep the pump and steering rack alive. Dirty fluid contains abrasive particles that destroy internal seals, and once the pump starts leaking or losing pressure, repairs become quite costly.
It’s advisable to flush the power steering fluid every 50,000 to 80,000 kilometres, or more frequently if the fluid appears dark or has a burnt smell to it. It’s one of the cheapest services on the car and protects some of the more expensive parts.
Keep The System Connected
The suspension and steering systems work in synergy, meaning that if one component is failing, it can quickly lead to others wearing out faster. For example, if a sway bar link is worn out, it will put extra stress on the ball joints. Or if the alignment is off, it will cause the tie rods to wear out more quickly. The key is to check these systems regularly and address any issues early on to prevent further damage.
