It May Come As A Shock.
The brakes are worn, so you hear an incessant squeaking. The A/C is shot, and you feel a constant stream of warm air slap you in the face. Powertrain busted? Hard to miss that one, since the car won’t go anywhere.
What will you notice if a vehicle’s steering and suspension requires repair or replacement? Chances are, very little. But these ride-control parts are critical to the overall health and longevity of your vehicle.
Don’t Overlook Steering and Suspension.
Ride-control products, such as steering and suspension parts, are critical for safety, and are responsible for maintaining the steering, stopping and stability of the vehicle. However, unlike many other part malfunctions, vehicle owners may fail to appreciate a change in their vehicle’s performance due to worn out shocks and struts, springs, ball joints, tie rod ends or steering racks. These parts degrade slowly over time and often go unnoticed. But they are vital to the overall wellness of a vehicle and the safety of its passengers.
Ride-control isn’t just about comfort.
Surveys show that consumers do not sufficiently maintain their vehicles. Especially during more difficult economic periods, motorists often elect to only repair those parts that are critical to vehicle operation. A little extra bump in the comfort of the car’s driveability is easily overlooked, both by the vehicle owner and a repair technician. In fact, research has shown that 86 percent of all vehicles sent to scrap yards still contain the original steering and suspension parts—they’ve never had these parts replaced through the life of the vehicle. Most people don’t realize that a small shift in comfort can result in safety issues and added repair costs.
Let’s take a quick gander at how ride-control parts can affect a vehicle:
• Worst-case scenario is that a failure in steering linkage can cause a dangerous loss of driver control
• Worn steering and suspension parts can cause other parts to wear faster, requiring more frequent and more costly repairs, and decreasing the road life of a vehicle
• Ride-control affects all aspects of driveability: steering, handling and braking response, in addition to overall driving comfort
Pothole protection.
And let’s not forget another important aspect of proper steering and suspension maintenance: potholes. If you live anywhere besides a tropical landscape lined with palm trees and sunny days, then the change in seasons brings cavity-filled roads that can wreak havoc on a vehicle. Steering and suspension parts buffer the vehicle from much of the devastation caused by these moon craters, and help you to remain unscathed through the transitional months.
Take Action.
A ride-control check should be part of the repair technician’s regular inspection. The Motorist Assurance Program (MAP) recommends the replacement of worn shocks and struts at 50,000 miles; however, the actual replacement mileage will vary according to the specific conditions.
The next time you feel a small adjustment in driving comfort and control, take action. It’s a great way to save money long-term, and ensure that your vehicle remains healthy and safe.
