What is the most common suspension breakdown?
Even the best suspension will not cope with the condition of our Polish roads, which leave much to be desired. Thus, the recipe lies in the correct use of the vehicle, which will minimize the risks associated with the difficult conditions on our roads.
There are dependent and independent suspensions. In independent suspension, each wheel has individual springs. In a dependent suspension, the wheels of the axles interact with each other, as they are connected by one suspension element, for example, a leaf spring or a rigid axle. In newly built and designed cars and light vans, the front and rear suspensions are usually independent. The exceptions are 4x4 cars and light vans, which still have dependent suspensions, which, due to their simplicity, are less accident-prone. However, it leaves much to be desired in terms of comfort and transmission of the impact of bumps on the car. It goes through corners worse, causing body roll and less track stability.
What suspension components break most often? The pin is the element that connects the rocker arm to the steering knuckle. He works all the time behind the wheel. It is most vulnerable to damage on long stretches of road, whether the vehicle is driving straight or turning. Another element worth paying attention to is the end of the tie rod. He is responsible for connecting the stub axle to the steering gear. What he dislikes the most is getting over potholes when turning. Located between the McPherson strut and the anti-roll bar, the stabilizer link is the hardest to punch holes when cornering and cornering. Swivel joints are also easily damaged. Some manufacturers press it constantly, then in case of failure, unfortunately, the entire rocker should be replaced. Particular attention should also be paid to the shock absorber. This is an element responsible for the stable overcoming of bumps by cars. The most common shock absorber failure is a breakthrough of oil or gas filling its center. Shock absorber wear is most often manifested in the "swimming" of the car on bumps. Shock absorbers have a big impact on the operation of the ABS and ESP systems. With worn shock absorbers and ABS, the stopping distance will be longer compared to vehicles with defective shock absorbers without ABS.
“In order to prolong the life of the suspension, first of all, it is necessary to check its condition at least once a year and immediately replace the damaged elements so as not to aggravate the damage to other suspension components. If it is possible to choose a route, it may be worth adding a few kilometers to the selection of roads with better coverage. If we encounter a "pothole road", we must slow down in order to avoid the biggest potholes and, above all, not to drive over them at high speed. The safe operation of the vehicle is ensured by a convergence check carried out once a year or after each event that can lead to loss of geometry, such as hitting or hitting a curb,” comments Marek Godziska, Auto-Boss Technical Director.
