The suspension system of a car is quite a complex system of interconnected components designed to ensure a smooth and easy ride. Car suspension systems can be severely affected by bad roads like the type we have in Nigeria, excessive wear and tear and lack of maintenance.

In case your car does not give you that smooth ride like it used to, especially over bumps and uneven roads then your car probably has something wrong with its suspension. Below are the usual symptoms of some suspension problems:

1. Pulling to one side:

In case you feel your car is pulling itself to one side while driving, you need to get your vehicle inspected by a mechanic.This mostly happens due to unaligned or badly aligned wheels but in more severe cases, it just might be bad steering components such as tie rods and steering rack while less severe symptoms may include bad tire inflation

2. Backward handspring of wheels:

This usually happens when the wheels wander and wiggle rapidly back and forth.

Causes:
• Excessive wear of tires can be a realistic cause of this issue.
• Worn out tie rods or steering comb.
• Bad tire inflation

Inspect your tires thoroughly; it is good practice to replace your tires in pairs rather than changing one tire individually. This disturbs the overall performance and suspension of your car

3. Bouncing on uneven roads

Bouncing or bumping on uneven roads is a common suspension error. It can have multiple reasons.

Most common causes are:
• Worn out shocks
• Worn out struts
• Collided leaf spring
• Bad tire inflation

4. Stumbling steering or hard steering:

Common causes of this problem can be:
• Top up of power steering fluid required
• Worn out or loose steering belt
• Leakage in steering comb
• Broken steering comb/racks
• Worn out Steering pump (Get it inspected for its pressure)

Low quality of power steering fluid can also act as a constraint to soft and smooth steer of your steering wheel. Mixing different kinds of power steering fluid can cause stumbling and hard steering, however the probability is not quite high

5. Vibration of steering wheels at high speed:

Vigorous vibration on constant high speed can be a great sign of:
• Unbalanced Wheels
• Worn out tires
• Distorted brake rotor

Get pairs of tires replaced to avoid vibration at constant high speed in case your car has uneven or worn out tires.

6. Disordered steering:

You may sometimes feel knocking and clunking through steering on bumpy and uneven roads.

Reasons for steering disorders can be:
• Worn out strut bearings
• Broken or worn out tie rods, steering rack or steering comb
• Worn out joints
• Worn out steering mounts

Note: Suspension diagnosis can cost a lot. Once you are under mechanic’s roof, you are bound to pay for all diagnosis performed. Some suspension problems have easy solutions like getting tires inflated, checking power steering fluid or getting tires replaced (in pairs). Most of the problems mentioned above are caused by bad roads

Source: http://carworldng..com.ng/2016/03/car-advice-vehicle-suspension-problems.html

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