Signs of a suspension or steering problem
If you notice any of these, come see us:
- Unusual sounds. A clunk or knock over bumps, a creak when you turn, a squeak over speed humps.
- Visible damage or leaking fluid at a shock, a strut or the steering rack.
- Pulling or drifting to one side.
- Steering that’s hard to turn, or that feels loose and vague.
- Bouncing that carries on after a bump, or a nose that dives when you brake.
- Tires wearing unevenly, especially in scallops or on one edge.
Every part of the system
Your suspension and steering are two halves of the same job: keeping the tires planted and pointed where you want them. We cater to every area of both.
- Shocks and struts
- Ball joints, control arms and bushings
- Sway bar links, a very common source of clunks
- Rack and pinion and other steering gear
- Tie rod ends
- Power steering pumps and hoses, including fluid leaks
- Wheel bearings
- Wheel alignment, set once the worn parts are replaced
Why it matters
Suspension wear creeps up so gradually that most drivers adjust without noticing. But tired shocks lengthen your stopping distance, a worn ball joint or tie rod makes the car harder to control, and loose parts beat up the ones next to them. Fixing one worn part early usually costs far less than waiting for it to take its neighbors along.
Local roads don’t help. A hard pothole hit can bend or loosen parts in a single afternoon, and our post on the danger of potholes covers what to check afterward.
What to expect
We road test the car, put it on the lift and check each joint for play. Then we show you what’s worn, tell you what needs doing now and what can wait, and give you an estimate before any work starts. Cars, trucks and SUVs, any make or model.