Auto Mechanics | Services | Suspension Repair

Complete Suspension Repair & Service Including:

• Shock absorber replacement: Shock absorbers help to absorb the bumps and vibrations of the road. Over time, they can wear out, leak fluid or become damaged, resulting in a bumpy or unstable ride.

• Strut replacement: Struts are a type of shock absorber that also provides structural support for the vehicle's suspension system. Like shock absorbers, struts can wear out and fail over time, leading to a harsh ride and poor handling.

• Ball joint replacement: Ball joints connect the steering knuckle to the control arm, allowing for movement and flexibility in the suspension system. Over time, ball joints can wear out or become damaged, leading to a loose or unstable front end.

• Control arm replacement: Control arms connect the vehicle's frame to the steering knuckle and help to control the vehicle's movement and alignment. Over time, control arms can become damaged or worn out, leading to poor handling and alignment issues.

• Sway bar link replacement: Sway bars help to reduce body roll and stabilize the vehicle during turns. Sway bar links connect the sway bar to the suspension system and can wear out or become damaged over time, leading to clunking noises or poor handling.

• Tie rod end replacement: Tie rod ends connect the steering rack to the steering knuckle and help to control the movement of the wheels. Over time, tie rod ends can become worn or damaged, leading to poor steering control and alignment issues.

These are some of the most common suspension repairs but there can be many other repairs depending on the make and model of the vehicle and its usage. It's always best to have your vehicle inspected to determine the specific suspension repair needed.

Shock Absorber Replacement

There are a few symptoms that are very specific to shock absorber replacement:

• Excessive bouncing: If your car bounces excessively while driving, especially over bumps or uneven roads, it could be a sign that your shock absorbers need to be replaced. Worn out shock absorbers cannot effectively absorb the impact of bumps, leading to a bouncy ride.

• Poor handling and stability: When the shock absorbers are worn out, your car's handling and stability will be affected. You may notice that your car sways or leans excessively when turning or changing lanes. This can be dangerous, as it affects your ability to control the vehicle.

• Uneven tire wear: Worn-out shock absorbers can cause your tires to wear unevenly. This is because the bouncing and instability caused by worn shock absorbers can put uneven pressure on your tires, causing them to wear out faster on certain areas.

• Suspension Noise: If you hear clunking or banging noises coming from your car's suspension system, it could be a sign that your shock absorbers need to be replaced. Worn-out shock absorbers can cause the suspension system to become loose, leading to noisy clunks and bangs.

• Longer stopping distance: Worn-out shock absorbers can also affect your car's braking performance. If your car takes longer to stop than usual, it could be a sign that your shock absorbers are not working effectively. This can be dangerous, as it can increase your stopping distance and make it harder to avoid accidents.

Struts Replacement

In addition to suspension noise while driving, excessive vehicle bouncing, and uneven tire wear, symptoms that are specific to strut replacement may include:

• Vehicle leaning to one side: When a strut is worn out or damaged, it may cause the vehicle to lean to one side.

• Bottoming out: If you notice that your vehicle is bouncing excessively or bottoming out over bumps, it may be a sign that the struts need to be replaced.

• Steering problems: Worn out or damaged struts can cause problems with steering, such as a loss of responsiveness or difficulty in turning the wheel.

• Poor handling: Worn out or damaged struts can affect the handling of the vehicle, making it more difficult to control, especially on corners or curves.

It is important to note that these symptoms may also be indicative of other issues with your vehicle, so it is best to have our strut replacement shop in inspect the problem to determine if it is related to the struts or something else entirely.

How Many Shocks & Struts Need Replacing?

A common question from customers is "do I need to replace both shock absorbers or struts if only one is bad?

And the short answer is no.

However, if one shock or strut has become worn the other will probably need replacement soon.

Depending on the age of your vehicle, changing only one shock or strut may create an uneven ride or bounce while you drive.

If you'd like to keep both sides of your suspension firm, consider replacing both front struts and shocks or both rear shocks and struts.

• Replacing one shock or strut: If you don't plan on owning your vehicle for a long period of time, the most cost effective solution for shock and strut repair is to replace only one.

• Replacing both shocks or struts: If ride comfort and even suspension grip on the road is important to you, replacing both front shocks and struts or both rear shocks and struts is also a cost effective option versus replacing all four. This will create the comfortable ride you're used to while saving on not replacing all four shocks and struts.

• Replacing all four shocks or struts: Should you replace all four struts/shock absorbers at the same time? Again, it's not necessary unless all four need to be replaced. If your car, truck or SUV has four old shock absorbers and inexpensive to replace and you prefer a smooth an even ride replace all four shocks and/or struts.

Ball Joint Replacement

Ball joints are usually the first thing to go in a vehicles suspension. They are exposed to all sorts of bad weather, dirt, salt, potholes and are under far greater stress than other suspension components.

As they are not designed for much movement at, any side load applied will wear them out quicker.

Ball joints replacement can become extremely loose and wobble. This makes the steering very difficult and unnerving to drive.

If you hear or feel a suspension problem, have your vehicles ball joints inspected for a replacement and replace both of them before they completely fail.

Delaying a ball joint replacement can lead to more parts wearing out trying to compensate for worn ball joints.

In addition to uneven tire wear and reduced handling and stability, some of the symptoms that may indicate the need for a ball joint replacement include:

• Excessive vibration or shaking in the steering wheel while driving.

• Clunking or popping sounds coming from the front suspension while driving over bumps or turning the vehicle.

• Steering wheel not returning to its original position after making a turn.

• The front end of the vehicle feels loose or wanders while driving.

• A knocking sound coming from the front suspension while driving over rough roads.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is important to have your vehicle inspected for a ball joint replacement to determine the cause and necessary repairs, which may include replacing one or both ball joints.

Control Arm Replacement

Control arm replacement is a common automotive repair that involves replacing the control arm, which is a crucial component of a vehicle's suspension system.

In addition to suspension noise and uneven tire wear, symptoms that may indicate the need for a control arm replacement include:

• Vehicle vibrations: If you notice unusual vibrations or shaking while driving, this could indicate that the control arm is worn or damaged. This can be especially noticeable when driving over uneven surfaces or at high speeds.

• Steering problems: A control arm that is worn or damaged can affect the steering of the vehicle. This can result in poor handling, difficulty turning, or a pulling sensation while driving.

• Poor alignment: If the control arm is out of alignment, it can cause the vehicle to pull to one side or the other while driving.

It is important to have any of these symptoms checked out by our local mechanic, as a worn or damaged control arm can affect the safety and performance of your vehicle.

Sway Bar Link Replacement

The symptoms that are very specific to a sway bar link replacement typically include:

• Clunking or knocking noise: One of the most common signs of a bad sway bar link is a clunking or knocking noise when you drive over bumps or uneven surfaces. This noise can often be heard coming from the front or rear of the vehicle and may get louder as you drive faster.

• Handling problems: A worn or damaged sway bar link can cause your vehicle to handle poorly, particularly when you are turning or cornering. You may notice that your vehicle feels more unstable or that the steering is less responsive than usual.

• Swaying or leaning: A worn or broken sway bar link can cause your vehicle to sway or lean excessively when you are driving, particularly when you are going around corners or making turns.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is important to have your vehicle inspected to determine if a sway bar link replacement is necessary.

Tie Rod End Replacement

There are several symptoms that are specific to tie rod end replacement, including:

• Steering wheel vibration: As tie rod ends wear out, they can cause the steering wheel to vibrate or shake, especially at higher speeds.

• Loose steering: Worn tie rod ends can also cause the steering to feel loose or imprecise, as the tie rods are no longer able to keep the wheels aligned properly.

• Clunking steering noises: When tie rod ends are worn, they may make clunking or rattling noises when you turn the steering wheel or go over bumps.

• Steering wheel off-center: A worn tie rod end can cause the steering wheel to be off-center, even when the wheels are straight.

If you experience any of these symptoms, it is important to have your tie rod ends inspected to determine if they need to be replaced.

How To Extend the Life of Your Suspension Repair

If you want to prolong the lifespan of your suspension repair, there are some things you can do.

• Firstly, it's essential to avoid driving on rough terrain.

• Keep in mind to avoid driving too fast over speed bumps. If you hit these bumps too fast, it can cause significant stress on your suspension system, leading to damage over time.

• Lastly, if you regularly carry heavy loads or tow a trailer, it's important to stay within the recommended weight limits. Overloading your vehicle can put extra stress on your suspension system, leading to potential damage.

Get The Best Price For Car Truck & SUV Suspension Repair

With so many suspension repair problems that can occur, have one of our mechanics inspect your suspension to pinpoint where the problem is. Many vehicles have a specified timeline for replacement parts such as balljoints, shocks and struts.

Be sure to stop by or give our mechanic shop a call to discuss the various suspension repairs and get you the best price possible.