Front & Rear Suspension
The suspension system consists of many moving parts. Many of these components are made from rubber. These can dry out over a period of time and begin to crack and perish. In the worst situation the rubber components can split. You may be able to recognise when a component has become defective, some of the effects could be:
- When pulling away from a standstill a knocking noise may occur from the front of the vehicle.
- When travelling along uneven surfaces, i.e. speed humps or bumpy roads, once again a knocking noise may be heard from either end of the vehicle and the ride in the vehicle may be an uncomfortable one.
- On a straight road, i.e. a motorway, if one side at the front of the vehicle there is a defective component, the vehicle will drift or pull to the defective side.
An important part of the suspension is the shock absorber. These are usually hydraulic or gas filled. They are essential to control the bounce on the vehicle and to ensure the tyres are kept firmly on the road. Damaged and worn shock absorbers can reduce the braking efficiency, cause poor cornering and tyre wear.
It is very important to have periodic checks on your vehicle every 6 to 12 months to ensure that the ride comfort and suspension system are kept at an optimum level. At Racecourse Motors your suspension system is fully checked over as part of our routine servicing to make sure that you remain as safe and comfortable as possible. With all our highly trained technicians you can rest assured that you and your vehicle are in safe hands.
Steering
The steering system on every car is very important and requires regular maintenance to keep it at an optimum standard. The steering rack on all motor vehicles is easily knocked out of alignment by all the speed humps and potholes in the road.
When the wheel alignment becomes out of tolerance the tyres will wear unevenly on either edge of the side walls. Noticeable signs of wheel imbalance to look out for are:
- Steering wheel is off-set when the vehicle is travelling in a straight line
- The vehicle may drift/pull to the left or right
- The front tyres will wear bald or show signs of uneven wear on either edge
If any of these faults are present on your vehicle we strongly recommend you have your wheel alignment checked and adjusted if necessary, as soon as possible.