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Suspension problems: What to fix and how

By CarToq Editor - September 17, 2012
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Suspension problems are one of the most common ailments faced by most car
owners in the lifetime of their cars. But diagnosing what exactly is wrong with your
suspension is the tricky part.
CarToq puts together some common suspension-related problems and tells you
what you should be looking to fix if such a problem occurs. Here are some common
symptoms and the likely causes for trouble.
Symptom: Excessive bumpiness

The car tends to bounce up and down a lot over bumps and even on slightly
undulating roads it tends to ride like a boat.
Likely cause: The first sign of a failed shock absorber is excessive bounciness in

the suspension. A shock absorbers function is to dampen this up and down

movement of the suspension and not let the car bounce too much. The bounce is
caused by the spring action from the coil spring, leaf spring or torsion bar
depending on the kind of suspension your car has.
What to check: If it’s a failed shock absorber, an easy check is to press down on
the car at one side and release it. If the car bounces back up and settles, there’s no
problem. But if it bounces up and down a couple of times, it’s likely that the shock
absorber has failed. Visually check the shock absorber – it may have tell-tale oil
leakage signs around it. The shock absorber alone will need replacement.
Symptom: Car sways from side to side

The car feels like it’s drifting from side to side after going over a bump. This is
sometimes accompanied by a squeaking sound.
Likely cause: Worn suspension bushes. The suspension system has rubber
bushes at most of its linkages, which tend to wear off with time. If these bushes
wear down, some play develops in the suspension arms, which causes this swaying
movement.
What to check: With the car raised on a jack, grab the suspension arms and try
moving them. They normally should not move if you move it with your hand. If they
do move, then look closely at the rubber bushes at their joints – they may be
cracked or worn. The bushes will need replacement.
Symptom: Thud or rattle from front suspension
 
Whenever the car goes over a bump you hear a clattering rattle from the front
suspension. Sometimes this also is felt as excessive vibration in the steering
column.
Likely cause: Worn out tie-rod ends / ball joints. The tie-rod ends are what “tie” the
steering rod linkage to the wheel hub and account for steering the car. These are
flexible joints that take a lot of stress from the suspension. Tie rod ends can fail
early if you turn the steering of the car often, when it is stationary and not moving,
as the added force needed to turn the wheel can weaken these joints. If the tie rod
end problem gets worse, it will lead to the car “wandering” on the road – moving
from side to side.
A thud or rattle can also be caused from the strut mount in a McPherson strut setup
(this is a shock absorber within a coil spring – common on most small and medium
cars). The strut mount at the top has a rubber bush which wears off in time. This will
need to be replaced.
What to check: Play in the tie-rod ends can be checked by jacking up the vehicle,
holding the tie rod end and having someone wiggle the front wheel. If the tie-rod
feels like it’s moving slightly in your hand, there is play in the joints. They need to be
replaced.
Symptom: Car sagging or collapses on one side

A car sagging to one side could be caused for different reasons based on the kind
of suspension set up.
Likely cause: If it’s a torsion bar set up – it could mean that the torsion bar has
slipped in its mounting. This can be adjusted to get it to regain its normal posture. If
it’s a leaf-spring suspension – some amount of sagging happens with age, with the
springs losing their tension. They will need to be re-cambered (heated and bent).

Sometimes leaf springs can break, causing similar symptoms, and this will need to
be replaced. Coil spring, multi-link suspension set ups don’t normally sag, except
when the coil springs are old.
What to check: This will have to be checked at a garage as it involves removing

the whole suspension set up. One can only visually look for problems, but bigger
issues can also be seen when the suspension is removed from the car – be it a leaf
spring set or a McPherson strut with coil springs.
These are some of the common suspension-related problems. If you have any
more, please share them with the CarToq community, who will help you diagnose
and suggest fixes as well.
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Suspension problems: What to fix and how

Symptom: Excessive bumpiness

Symptom: Car sways from side to side

Symptom: Car sagging or collapses on one side

What to check: This will have to be checked at a garage as it involves removing

STUPID motorcycle accessories that do more harm than

Mahindra Scorpio Mountaineer is an official custom option

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