How to Check the Car Suspension

by William W. Work Hard To Achieve the Goal

Testing a vehicle's suspension from the outside seems like a difficult process requiring global technical knowledge and ownership of equipment. In fact, it is possible to independently check the suspension - it does not require equipment and complex devices. On how to properly check the suspension, and what conclusions can be drawn after verification, we will tell in this material.

How to Check Front Suspension

Most cars have a standard McPherson front suspension. The most expensive part of the suspension are the racks and shock absorbers. According to the degree of difficulty of the replacement, the stabilizer and lever bushings follow. It is easier and cheaper to change the ball bearings of the front suspension.

When checking the front suspension, first examine the anthers and rubber covers of the parts, then proceed to inspect the silent blocks, ball and all of the above. Inspect the mounting bolts and tips of the steering rods. If you find a part whose cover is damaged, then it will be necessary to replace such a part.

Carefully inspect all rubber seals, they should not be mechanically damaged. Separately study the details adjacent to the body - here it is necessary to conduct an inspection more carefully because of the worst visibility.

For shock absorber tell oil leaks - the first signs of a malfunction. They can be noticed earlier than sounds arise when rocking the car. If the car is swinging instead of the oscillations damped, it also means that the shock absorber is worn, but at a more advanced stage - again, replacement is required.

Determine the failure of the eye

With a strong wear of the springs, their subsidence occurs, and all that is required in this case is to inspect the car, paying attention to its landing. The car is lower than it should be - a sure sign of the "fatigue" of the shock absorber springs. It also makes it impossible to adjust the camber.

Ball bearings are checked on the viewing hole, it is somewhat more difficult, as it requires the ability to look under the car, as well as the presence of the mount. Click on the lower arm silent blocks and check how they move up and down. If there is no backlash, and the tires on the parts are intact, then everything is in order and you need not worry.

Much easier things with bearings. To find out what condition they are in, it is enough to swing the car up and down, and if the part is worn out, there will be gaps. It is usually said that with heavy wear of bearings the car swings more than once, at least two. One movement up and down during the buildup speaks about the health of the parts.

Behind the wheel and in motion

Some defects are diagnosed in motion, or simply because of the steering wheel in statics. Problems with the steering rack are diagnosed by turning the steering wheel to the side and rocking the rail. Usually the cause of problems with this mechanism is the wear of the guide bush.

Steering rods and tips are also checked by steering movement, but not a one-time, and from side to side. In this case, you will need an assistant, because during the movement of the steering wheel, you need to hold on to the steering tips and thrust - they should not play. If there is a backlash, then the tips are faulty and require replacement.

The condition of the wheel bearing is the easiest to determine in motion - in the event of a malfunction, it emits a loud and uniform hum, it will be difficult not to hear it even with good sound insulation of the car. The condition of the wheel bearing can be determined when hanging: spin the wheel, or swing the top point, identify the backlash.

Once you took the car to study the suspension seriously and asked the car dealer about the test drive , test the external CV joints, which emit a crash during a sharp turn with acceleration. Maneuver and listen to how the car responds.

How to check the rear suspension

The main part of components and assemblies is concentrated in the front suspension, so the rear suspension is easier to check. On most budget cars, the rear suspension is dependent, its most expensive part is the pillars, on average (budget) cars i.e carzaamin.com/blog/suzuki-cultus-for-sale-in-lahore-pakistan/ they pass about 100 thousand kilometers, after which they start to “tire”.

More in the rear suspension is nothing substantial and critical, in addition to silent blocks, which are almost eternal (again, look at the state of rubber bands). If the rear suspension is independent, its device is somewhat more complicated, but the essence does not change - in addition to the racks and sayletblok there is nothing fatal, but they wear out faster in the independent suspension, and this is better noticeable.

The rear suspension is best checked along with the front in the course of a test drive, here the sounds and behavior of the car will best tell you about the situation - something bangs or not, and how it absorbs - it rocks on uneven or not. If the car is swinging on uneven surfaces, not only up and down, but also transversely, this indicates that the suspension is killed, and repairs are urgently needed. It also means that the car was not watched and looked after, and it’s better not to buy such a car.

Main suspension parts

It is best to check the main components and parts of the suspension on the go, the sounds will tell you in detail whether there are any malfunctions. You need to drive a car over bumps, for example, rails or bumps, but without fanaticism, so as not to harm the vehicle.

The main components, the state of which you need to know:

Shock absorber - serves to repay fluctuations. If the car is swinging heavily, the shock absorber is faulty.
Spring - part of the shock absorber, if it sinks or bursts, the car becomes significantly lower than the factory fit.
Ball joint - on the one hand mounted on the lever, on the other - on the steering knuckle. Responsible for steering.
The lower lever - attached to the body at two points, ensures the operation of the suspension. On the attachment points to the body are silent blocks.
Stabilizer - connects the stabilizer and the rack, thus connecting it with the suspension.
Steering rack - transmits the force from the steering wheel to steering knuckles. When you rotate the steering wheel should not play and make extraneous sounds.
The suspension itself will tell about the main points; however, if you want to know everything in detail, it is better not only to look under the car and ride it, but also to turn to specialists in the service, who will be able to examine the condition of the suspension parts with the help of a lift and tell there is a problem.