Suspension Repairs & Maintenance
- January 31, 2018
By Erich Schmidt
Owner of Schmidt Auto Care
I’ve been in the automotive repair business a long time, and you see people get frustrated when a large repair bill comes their way. It’s inevitable that a repair will come at a time when money is terribly inconvenient for you, so I can’t preach enough how very important car suspension maintenance is for your vehicle.
If you keep an eye on things, you can save yourself a lot of time and money in the end. This month, we are going to talk about maintaining suspension. It is an area of the vehicle that is more important than people realize, so it is often overlooked.
When I talk about car maintenance, most people think of oil changes, tire rotations, etc., but your suspension is incredibly important to maintain. Let’s dive into suspension.
What Is the Suspension?
Properly working suspension not only affects how comfortable and smooth your ride is, but it is a major player in your car’s safety. For reliable suspension repair in Springboro, understanding how your suspension works is the first step.
Why Get Regular Suspension Checkups?
The simple answer is that suspension is vital to the safety and performance of your car. As the part of your car that puts tires in contact with the road, the suspension plays a critical role in how your car handles.
Badly maintained suspension results in faster and uneven tire wear, which further compromises safety.
Ride comfort is one very immediate benefit that accrues from a well-maintained suspension, but it is only when you have to steer sharply or brake quickly that the true importance is put into play.
If you don’t have a well-maintained suspension system, you are not as safe as you should be and are putting yourself and others at risk. Regular suspension services can help mitigate these risks and ensure your vehicle is road-ready.
What Makes Up Your Suspension?
Your car’s suspension system is made up of four basic components:
- Struts
- Shock Absorbers
- Springs
- Tires
The Role of Shock Absorbers and Struts
Shock absorbers and struts are key for road safety. They perform the function of keeping the tires evenly connected with the road and maintaining a vertical load on the tires.
Here’s an interesting fact: the shock absorbers on your car go through as many as 1,000 movements per mile. Knowing that, it is not surprising that they wear out quite quickly and should be checked every 50,000-55,000 miles to ensure safe and optimum operation. For shock absorber repair, turn to experienced technicians who can ensure your safety.
The Role of Springs and Tires
The springs support the weight of your car and act as a flexible link that allows the body and frame to ride with minimal disturbance, while the tires and suspension follow the road, getting you safely from point A to point B.
When all four components are working perfectly together, you will have the ultimate ride.
What Does Your Suspension Do?
The suspension of your car has a number of functions that are crucial to your vehicle’s safety and performance, including:
- Maintaining the correct vehicle ride height
- Reducing the effect of shock forces upon your car
- Maintaining the correct wheel alignment
- Supporting the vehicle’s weight
- Keeping the vehicle’s tires in contact with the road
- Controlling the vehicle’s direction of travel
Just from that list, you can surely see why car suspension maintenance is so important to overall handling on the road. Making sure it is working properly will not only make your car safer but will also help reduce unnecessary wear and tear.
Making sure it is working properly will not only make your car safer but will also help reduce unnecessary wear and tear.
The Importance of Well-Maintained Shock Absorbers
A single worn shock absorber can add up to 6.5 feet to the stopping distance of a car traveling at just 50 mph. That is the width of a pedestrian crossing!
This sobering detail puts into perspective just how very important good suspension and well-maintained shock absorbers can be.
Trust the Experts at Schmidt Auto Care
The skilled technicians at Schmidt Auto Care are part of Monroe’s Safety Specialist Dealer program and are trained to offer careful repairs with quality parts, so your vehicle’s suspension is operating safely for you and your family. For trusted suspension repair in Springboro, we’re here to help.
Whether you visit the team at Schmidt Auto Care or take your vehicle elsewhere, keep these tips in mind when thinking about your car’s suspension. Stay safe on the road.
Pro Tip: Keep a log of all maintenance dates and services to ensure you stay on a good maintenance schedule.
If you have a question you would like us to answer, or a topic to write about, please email us at contactus@schmidtautocare.com
