When Should you Have your Suspension and Steering Checked?

Your suspension, like the other parts of the truck, deteriorates simply because you drive the truck.

All of the parts like the struts, the control arm, bushings, ball joints, and steering linkage have a lifespan and will eventually need to be replaced. Suspension wear causes your car to be unstable, drive strangely, and be difficult to drive. Wear on your suspension also causes excessive tire wear and a loss of comfort.

When to Check the Suspension and Steering?

Have a mechanic look at your suspension periodically. Your steering and suspension need occasional maintenance, and the best time to have these systems checked is when:

• Your car reaches its 50,000-mile mark
• Your car reaches its yearly inspection requirements
• Your tires are replaced
• Your brakes need servicing
• You see that fluid is leaking when you park the car
• You notice the steering is performing strangely

How Can I Tell My Steering is Not Working Properly?

If you have an unusually bouncy truck or your ride is not perfectly comfortable on normal roads, the steering may be compromised. If you feel vibrations or unusual noises when you go over bumps, then it is time to inspect and repair the truck’s suspension by taking it to a reliable suspension specialist.

Only after a full inspection can your mechanic tell you what is wrong and how to go about fixing it. Even so, here are some simple things that might be telling you that you have a problem:

• Unusual bounciness
• Vibrations or odd noises over bumps
• Poor comfort on smooth roads
• Uneven or excessive tire wear
• Steering feels loose, stiff, or unresponsive

This could be a misaligned suspension, which could result from an accident or part wear down.

Where To Get The Suspension Checked?

If you think your truck needs to have its suspension checked, take the truck to a truck repair mechanic with the proper diagnostic equipment. Steering and suspension keep your car safe and are as important as the braking system.

Be sure that you use a truck suspension mechanic who has the needed experience to make the necessary repairs.

Bottom Line

Just as with all other parts, your truck steering is going to need inspecting, maintenance, and repair at some point in its life. The difference is that the suspension and steering components are often interlinked and are critical to the truck's reliability and safety, so it is important to not wait when you think you might have a truck steering issue