Bilstein, KYB, Koni, and Rancho are three car brands known for producing top-quality suspension parts. What should you think about when it comes to car suspension parts?
Rock Auto offers these brands, along with Eibach and KW Suspensions, which deliver quality at an economical price point – ideal for drivers seeking the ideal balance of cost and performance.
Shocks
Shocks and struts play an essential role in stabilizing your vehicle’s movements, providing greater control when turning, braking, or accelerating. These hardworking parts move up and down up to 1,900 times every mile—or over 75 million times when reaching 100,000 miles!
Constant movement causes shock absorbers and struts to wear out over time, typically from internal damage. Over time, their oil can lose viscosity, diminishing their ability to dampen spring movement. Without shocks, your tires would bounce all over the road, creating an uncomfortable ride for both yourself and passengers alike. One indicator of necessary replacement could be an unnatural bumpiness during your ride, which may also indicate poor alignment or steering geometry issues.
Coil Springs
Coil springs found within shock absorbers are designed to cushion your vehicle as you navigate bumpy roads and uneven terrain, taking on much of the impact. Coil springs consist of metal coils bent into bendable coils that bend while driving over rough road conditions.
Thicker coil springs may cost more than thinner ones; however, they offer superior performance and durability.
Spring rates depend on steel strength, wire diameter, and coil count—three key variables when it comes to lowering your car. Understanding this concept is especially crucial when you’re lowering springs using coil bind, as this condition could damage other suspension components over time. Purchasing lowering springs from known brands will help ensure optimal results and avoid coil bind situations altogether.
Struts
Though they’re often used interchangeably, “shock” and “strut” serve different functions. Shocks act solely as shock absorbers, while struts combine several suspension parts into one structural unit.
Struts are designed to control both forward and backward movement of vehicles. They help maintain stable ride comfort by absorbing bumps or potholes and keeping tires connected to the road, improving handling and ride comfort.
If your car has been bouncing more frequently than usual, this could be a telltale sign that its struts have worn out. Uneven tire wear is another telltale symptom of worn struts. Any visible leakage of hydraulic suspension fluid near these components should also be taken as a signal that they need replacement. Additionally, vibrations caused by bad struts speed up wear on other mechanical parts more rapidly than usual.
Control Arms
Control arms are among the most essential components of your vehicle. They enable smooth steering input from both you and the driver and changes in road surface conditions that allow tires to rise and fall with controlled action.
As with suspension components, control arms can wear down over time. Telltale signs include clunking noises, uneven tire wear, and steering wandering.
Lower control arms connect at their frame or body end with bushings to a steel spindle that allows wheels to pivot left and right. Their other end connects via ball joints with the steering knuckle; all together, these components allow two planes of movement and reduce overall noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) for a softer and safer ride experience.
Sway Bars
Sway bars are long tubular pieces of metal connected by suspension to each end, designed to reduce body roll during turns. Similar to springs found on clothes pins or clipboards, sway bars twist to resist rotation just like their spring counterparts do.
They help transfer weight from one front wheel to the other, helping reduce tire slipperiness on uneven road surfaces. If you hear any clunking or squeaking noises when driving over speed bumps or taking turns, this could be a telltale sign that the sway bar bushings or end links have worn out and need replacement.
Tim’s automotive technicians can assess the condition of your sway bars and bushings to make sure they’re operating smoothly. Arrange an appointment today!
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