There are a lot of different components that work together in your vehicle’s suspension to provide you with a smooth, stable ride while ensuring easy handling. This includes parts like springs, shock absorbers and struts, control arms, sway bars, and bushings. Together, these components work in harmony to provide a comfortable, stable, and safe driving experience, absorbing bumps, keeping your tires on the road, and helping manage steering.

That’s why it’s important to inspect and maintain these parts and keep an eye on some of these red flags that could be warning something isn’t quite right.

7 Signs of a Bad Suspension System

1. Uneven Tire Wear

If one tire seems more worn out than the other, it could mean suspension problems like different components have reached their lifespan or they’re misaligned.

2. Excessive Bouncing

If you experience bouncing after hitting a bump or dip in the road, this could mean your shock absorbers or struts need to be replaced.

3. Knocking or Clunking Noises

Strange noises when going over bumps or making turns could be a sign of worn-out suspension components like ball joints, bushings, or tie rods.

4. Difficulty Steering

If you find it harder to steer your car or that it almost feels loose and unresponsive, it could also indicate a problem with the suspension, particularly with the steering linkage or power steering system.

5. Visible Damage or Leakage

It’s always important to inspect the suspension components for any signs of damage like bent or broken parts, or see if there is leaking fluid from the shock absorbers or struts.

6. Excessive Vibration

When traveling at high speeds, your steering wheel could start vibrating enough you feel it through the whole vehicle, which is another sign of suspension problems or problems with the tires.

7. Sagging or Uneven Ride Height

If you notice that one corner of the vehicle looks lower to the ground than others or if the overall ride height looks lower than normal, it could mean worn-out or damaged suspension components.

Find All Your Vehicles Suspension Parts

At AutoNation Parts, we carry a variety of parts and accessories for different brands, including suspension components made to fit your vehicle. Whether you’re looking for struts, shock absorbers or ball joints, we have genuine parts to guarantee a perfect fit to your vehicle—all up to 35% off MSRP.

Make it easier to find the parts for your vehicle by inputting your VIN number or narrowing down results by the make, model, and year.