A healthy suspension system is necessary for good road holding and a smoother ride. Your prestige car is able to traverse tough terrains and bumpy roads without much jolts or noise because of a well-built and efficient suspension system. The only requirement is that it needs to be well-maintained.

In this blog, we will discuss in detail how to maintain car suspension, its importance, and all you can do to avoid its damage. 

Understanding the car’s suspension system 

A vehicle suspension system consists of several primary components, all serving different functions. These primarily include:

• Shock Absorbers

These are long-tubed pistons filled with liquid (sometimes with gas too). These reduce the impact from a dip or bump in the road by laying support to springs by lengthening and compressing. 

• Coil Springs

The spring mechanism of your vehicle absorbs large bumps and dips. They are built to take extreme pressure and to avoid failure of other suspension components.

• Struts 

These are in one assembly of shock absorbers and springs and are responsible for providing structural support for your car. While not all cars have struts, the ones that do typically have them on only one axle. 

• Tyres 

You heard that right! Tyres are a part of your vehicle’s suspension system. These are the only components of a car’s suspension system that touches the road. Tyres take the most impact from road dips and bumps and transfer it to struts and/or shocks. 

• Leaf Springs 

These are made of multiple metal plates, slightly curved and clamped together. These reduce vertical vibration and are mostly found on vehicles with solid read axles. 

To prevent issues and further damage to your vehicle, immediate attention from a suspension mechanic Melbourne is highly recommended. 

How to maintain your car’s suspension - Expert tips

To ensure a well-maintained and efficient suspension system, you should pay attention to each of its components. Here are some expert tips from the Mercedes Mechanic Melbourne on how to maintain your car’s suspension. 

1. Check the air in your tyres 

To prevent your suspension system from damaging and even avoid accidents on the road, you must keep your tyres properly inflated. Under-inflated tyres may hurt handling and vehicle performance and may minimise gas efficiency in the long run. Further, very low air pressure in the tyre can compromise the safety of the vehicle and the driver. 

It is recommended to check the tyre pressure every 1600 kms or so to ensure proper inflation. 

2. Get your wheels aligned 

Properly aligned wheels ensure proper handling in all driving conditions, keeping you safe on the road. Make sure to get your wheels aligned every 2 to 3 years or every 10000 miles (16000 kms). You can also check your manufacturer’s guide on how frequently you should have your wheels aligned. 

Remember, the rougher your drive, the more frequently you should maintain your wheels and their alignment. 

3. Inspect the tyre tread

Checking the tyre tread is as important as the tyre pressure. An uneven tyre depth can affect the performance of your suspension system. A simple method to test the tyre tread is the penny test - simply place the penny in one of the grooves. If you cannot cover a portion of the penny, it indicates insufficient tread depth for safe driving. 

As a result, you become more vulnerable to losing control of your car, especially in wet, snowy or icy weather conditions. 

4. Check the power steering fluid

On average, a car needs power steering fluid check every 40000 miles or every 2 years. The old fluid needs to be flushed out.  Checking with your automaker’s guidelines is recommended, though. However, if you have a hydraulic steering system, you should get your power steering fluid levels at every engine oil change. 

5. Inspect struts and shock absorbers 

These components help you control your car while braking, accelerating, and turning. The struts and shock absorbers need to be replaced if your car is driving forward as you brake or bouncing as you drive. Some other tell-tale signs these components need replacement are:

• Fluid leaking on the outside of the shocks.

• Excessive jolting on bumpy roads

• Inclination of your car towards one side 

• Unusual tyre wear when struts and shocks aren’t working properly.

• The car’s front end plunges when braking

6. Check the joints and bearings 

The joints and bearings play a vital role in holding all the components of the suspension system together. These are made of metals, rubbers, or plastics that may wear over time. It’s worth noting that every manufacturer has different system designs. As such, check your manufacturer’s guide when replacing the joints and bearings. 

Since every part of the suspension is connected and operates in a different way, there’s no predictable order of when and where they will fail. If one part is damaged, it will eventually impact the other parts, accelerating issues quickly. 

It’s best to get the suspension system inspected as soon as you suspect damage or if you are planning a major road trip to ensure safety and optimal vehicle performance. 

How to avoid damage to a car’s suspension? 

While regular maintenance ensures your suspension system is working efficiently, several preventive measures can help you prevent it from damage. These include:

• Replacing worn-out parts 

Damaged or worn-out suspension components can cause serious risks to the vehicle and your safety. Hence, make sure to replace the worn-out parts immediately if you notice unusual or bumpy vehicle performance. Also, refer to your manufacturer’s guidelines to determine the replacement period for each of the components of your suspension unit. 

• Use high-quality, original parts only 

When replacing the parts, make sure to use manufacturer-suggest, high-quality parts designed for specific vehicles. While you may save on upfront costs by using cheap, low-quality auto parts, it could cause more issues down the line and compromise your safety as well. 

• Avoid overloading 

Loading too much on the vehicle can put extra pressure on the suspension unit, causing it to wear out sooner. 

• Drive carefully 

Avoid rough driving if you want to ensure safety and the suspension system to last long. Also, avoid driving over rough roads or potholes or at least slow down your vehicle in such road conditions to avoid unnecessary stress on the suspension system. 

Maintain your suspension with BCS Prestige 

If you are due for suspension system maintenance or suspect a repair, bring your vehicle to the best suspension specialist in Melbourne at BCS Prestige. 

We have over 7+  years of experience in car servicing and maintenance and offer warranty-friendly services at an affordable price. At BCS Prestige, We use the best-class diagnostic equipment and a skilled team to offer guaranteed results. Further, we only use manufactured-approved auto parts to ensure long-lasting, smoother vehicle performance. 

We specifically deal with exclusive models of Peugeot, Audi, Land Rover, BMW, Volvo, Volkswagen and others.

To learn more about how to maintain your suspension system or book a maintenance schedule, contact us today!