All of the components in your car, the steering and suspension, take some of the heaviest wear.
Proper maintenance is the best way to catch small problems before they turn into costly ones. Knowing what kind of steering and suspension your car has will help you determine how to best respond to certain driving emergencies, such as hydro planing and skidding.
You should know whether your car uses rack and pinion steering or an alternate system.
Do you know if your vehicle has power steering? Front wheel drive? Or rear wheel drive?
If you can’t find the answers to these questions in your owners manual, our licensed mechanics will be pleased to help you out. Some of the most common symptoms of steering and suspension problems are:
- The car is unusually difficult to steer
- The steering wheel shakes or vibrates
- A clunking noise when you go over a bump
- There is a screeching noise when you steer
- The car “jumps” when you hit bumpy terrain
- The car is difficult to keep on a straight path and/or tends to drift
In some cases, these problems can be easily corrected.
More serious steering and or suspension defects, however, will require the assistance of an experienced mechanic.