Every vehicle has some sort of suspension system. The purpose of the suspension system is to keep your car rolling down the road smoothly and with good handling. The suspension system consists of a series of links and metal rods connected together by hardened rubber and grommets. This makes a cushion to keep your car’s ride smooth. There are also hydraulic shocks and/or struts to help soften the ride. Like any other part, the suspension wears over time and needs replacing.

There are a couple of ways you can tell if your car’s suspension system is going bad. First, a creaking and groaning while driving is a sure sign suspension parts are wearing. A popping noise while turning is an indication your struts or mounts are going bad. Having the car bottom out or “porposing” while going over bumps indicates weakened springs. It is not uncommon to replace several parts when suspension work is necessary.

Shocks and struts are usually the first suspension part to fail. The shock absorber operates using hydraulics. Basically, a shock absorber is a cylinder attached at the top end to your car's frame and the bottom end to an arm of the suspension. Each wheel on a vehicle has its own corresponding shock absorber. The shock cylinder has two pieces that slide up and down over each other, housing a piston inside.

Tension on the piston inside the shock is maintained by a sealed amount of oil. As the vehicle moves over bumps, the piston inside the shock moves and encounters resistance by the sealed-in oil. The resistance is what keeps your car riding smooth and level. Oil will leak out of the shock when the seal holding the oil inside wears out. That’s a clear indication you need new shocks.

Things can go downhill quickly when your suspension parts fail. You should experience a noticeable difference in the way your car drives down the road. The vehicle can pull hard to the left or right. Excessive vibrations may also be present. Look at your tires. Premature wear on your tires is an indication there’s something wrong with your suspension. Failure to replace the faulty parts can result in the risk of an accident and the additional cost of tires.

Suspension problems are something you shouldn’t ignore. You’re putting your life and the lives of others at risk. Have suspension problems looked at immediately.