4 Telltale Signs Your Suspension May Be Failing

Imagine sitting on a chair with one leg shorter than the other. With every movement it wobbles, creaks or sways to one side. It is anything but comfortable to sit in. That’s what a failing suspension feels like. Essentially, both the seat and the suspension of the car are designed to provide stability and comfort. A properly functioning suspension system is a major part of why these are the most comfortable cars ever built.

However, if the system fails, the car becomes unusable and sometimes very unsafe. That’s why knowing what a failing suspension system feels like is one of the best ways to prevent these problems before they happen. There are many different types of systems on the market, all of which have their advantages and disadvantages. However, the problems they all face typically manifest in issues with comfort, stability, safety and handling.

According to SAP North Americaa major manufacturer and distributor of suspension components for the North American market, the suspension system includes several key components. These include the springs, shocks, struts, control arms, sway bar links, sway bars, ball joints and bushings. Any of these can wear out and often manifest as one or more of the telltale signs that your suspension may be failing. This is what they are.

A car’s suspension is designed to keep the vehicle stable and control its motion. This means that the car should remain level under normal conditions and should not bounce, squat, dive or lean excessively when braking, accelerating or turning. A little weight shift is normal. However, if the vehicle continues to bounce or dive excessively, it is a sign that your suspension may be failing as the damping system can no longer control the motion.

Problems like these usually indicate weakened coil springs or struts, but they can also indicate strut fluid leaks and weakened shocks. The easiest way to test if your vehicle is bouncing uncontrollably is to press firmly on the front or rear bumper and see how the car responds. If the vehicle bounces a little but stabilizes quickly, this is usually fine. However, if it bounces like it’s on a trampoline, it’s time to have the suspension checked.

If your car has an independent rear suspension (IRS), the bouncing or squatting may be localized to one corner. This is because the rear wheels of an IRS move independently, so the motion is not as likely to translate to either corner. Either way, if it keeps bouncing, it usually means that one of the previously mentioned components is to blame. Another way to test this is to simply drive over a speed bump and see how long it takes for your car to stabilize.

A car’s suspension “hangs” the vehicle at all four corners. When everything functions normally, all four corners are level and the vehicle remains flat. When cornering, most cars will naturally lean to one side or the other – that’s normal physics. However, if the car leans or pulls to one side while driving, even with the steering wheel held straight at 12 o’clock, this often indicates worn or failed suspension components.

To check if your suspension or steering is the source of the problem, inspect your tie rods, bushings, and control arms, as they may be unevenly worn, collapsed, or bent. These problems can also be due to wheel alignment, uneven tire wear, or problems with individual steering components, namely the steering knuckle. However, if you notice your car drifting to one side when braking, this is usually a sign of problems with the braking system, as opposed to a suspension problem.

Inspect your car’s camber, caster and toe dimensions by performing an alignment check, as these are known to change over time, especially if the car experiences bumps associated with potholes or curbs. The question of whether you can align your car’s tires yourself usually comes down to whether you value convenience over time, effort, and tolerance for trial and error — even then, performing a DIY alignment isn’t necessarily convenient either. That said, if you don’t have the necessary tools and experience, it’s best to leave it to a professional.

Rattling sounds can indicate timing chain problems, whistling can indicate a problem with the intake or vacuum, and grinding sounds are often associated with worn brake pads. The key to identifying whether a sound is related to the suspension is the context: when it occurs, where it comes from and what it sounds like. Suspension problems are often due to damaged or worn suspension parts that are no longer securely in place.

So if you hear heavy chattering noises while driving over bumps, or if you hear them from one or more corners of the car, it usually means worn or damaged sway bar links, defective control arm bushings, or worn ball joints. In addition, slapping and knocking noises coming from the suspension area can also be attributed to worn shock absorbers, strut problems and worn or damaged leaf spring brackets.

In addition, if you hear squeaking noises, it may be due to worn rubber parts, such as worn bushings. It is important to have these systems checked as soon as possible, because driving with worn parts can put extra strain on the rest of the car’s suspension. Ultimately, some car noises are worse than others. Therefore, pay attention to where and when the noises occur and how they affect the vehicle.

While the car is parked, and especially if it has been sitting for a while, checking the wheel clearances at all four corners can also help you identify suspension problems. For example, if the vehicle is lower on one side and has less wheel travel, the coil spring may be fatigued. These problems can also indicate defective springs or struts that cannot support the weight of the vehicle evenly at all four corners.

Driving with such a compromised suspension system is never a good idea, especially since uneven weight distribution can actually lead to bottoming and damage to the underside of the car. Air suspension has many advantages and disadvantages, but one of the biggest disadvantages of an air suspension system is a worn airbag that causes the car to sag. That’s typically why those old, luxury cars sink or even collapse on one side.

In addition to the airbags themselves, air suspension sagging can also be due to a weak or defective air compressor that cannot maintain air pressure, damaged solenoid valves, problems with the ECU, leaking air lines or defective height sensors. At the same time, if your lines, sensors or airbags are faulty, they can very easily cause the compressor to fail as it is forced to run continuously or work harder than intended to maintain ride height.