What Causes Suspension Damage?

All drivers in the Plainfield, Indianapolis, Fishers, and Bloomington, IN, areas have one common nemesis: potholes. Did you know that one of the most common causes of suspension damage is a sudden shock from a pothole or other uneven obstruction in the road?

Our team at Andy Mohr Collision Center is here to inform you all about a vehicle’s suspension, which parts are often affected, how to know your suspension is damaged, and how suspension damage is repaired. Let’s get started.

What Is Suspension?

A vehicle’s suspension is designed to cushion your car from uneven motion between its four wheels when in contact with the road. This system also enhances passenger comfort and provides steering stability.

Suspension systems are made up of many components like:

• Springs
• Shock absorbers
• Struts
• Anti-roll bars
• Control arms and other parts!

How Will I Know When My Suspension is Damaged?

Now, you may be asking yourself, “Will my car show the effects of a damaged suspension?” Absolutely. Your vehicle’s suspension is a major player in its steering and stopping performance. While your suspension will age naturally over the years, sudden shocks to the tires can cause issues.

 If you’ve hit a gnarly pothole or a rogue bump one too many times, you may begin to notice these signs of suspension damage.

• Poor wheel alignment: Has your vehicle been pulling to one side while you drive? This typically points to misaligned tires or issues with your shock absorbers and brakes. It’s best to stop in our body shop for a thorough check up.
• Feeling every bump: Have your rides not been as smooth as they have been in the past? Because your vehicle’s suspension is meant to make your ride more comfortable, you shouldn’t feel every bump on the road. However, if you are, we recommend bringing your vehicle in to us.
• Difficulty steering: You may have low power steering fluids, a faulty power steering pump, or a worn control arm that is affecting your steering and suspension.
• One corner sits low: Have you noticed that one side of your car sits lower than the other? This can be caused by a worn or damaged spring in the suspension system. To prevent further damage to your vehicle, stop by for a repair or replacement as soon as possible.
• Oily shock absorbers: If you’re comfortable checking your own shocks or struts, you can check to see if they’re oily or greasy. If they are, your car is probably experiencing a fluid leak.

Can Suspension Damage be Fixed?

When it comes to damage to certain suspension components, you may need a complete replacement compared to a repair. This is because many components are made up of forged steel, cast steel, or aluminum—materials that are difficult to repair after being bent or damaged.

To fix suspected suspension damage, our crew of technicians will do a thorough inspection of the system to find the damaged part. From there, they will make a diagnosis and get your go-ahead for repair and replacement.

After many tests to make sure your suspension is working as it should, you should be good to go!

Schedule a Suspension Damage Repair Appointment Today

Potholes are hard to miss sometimes. In the event your vehicle’ suspension becomes damaged because of a sudden shock, you can have the issue repaired at Andy Mohr Collision Center near Plainfield, Indianapolis, Fishers, and Bloomington, Indiana, today.