The Importance of Suspension Repair
Many of us think that ‘a car is a car’, but that isn’t always the case. When you own a European car, suspension repair is one area that needs the experience and training of a European auto mechanic. What makes the suspension system on European cars different from American cars? The first thing is a radical difference between the manufacturing of American and European cars, starting with the emission and safety standards.
European cars have different designs in other areas too with distinct parts and a higher level of engineering and technology such as:
- The transmission – Most European cars have manual transmissions whereas most American cars have automatic transmissions.
- The steering and suspension – With crowded and narrow streets all through Europe, the steering and suspension must be high-performing for better control and cornering.
- The engine – European cars are powered by diesel fuel and American cars are gasoline-powered because fuel is less expensive in the United States. This requires the engines to be more efficient and smaller, and yes, European engines are built to last longer.
With each of these functions of a European car, suspension repairs, as with the engine and transmission are best done by a mechanic who has specific training and the required tools. For the sake of this blog, we’re going to answer questions and focus on European car suspension repairs.
How do I know if suspension repairs are needed for my European car?
There aren’t any warning lights on the dashboard to tell you that your European car needs car suspension repairs. Some indications that will tell you include:
The car nose dives when you go over a bump
Thera re clunking sounds in the front as you drive
The steering wheel shakes or vibrates as you drive
The car goes to one side as you brake or while driving
The tires have excessive or uneven wear
Can car suspension be repaired?
In most cases yes, car suspension repairs are possible. An exception to this would be if the car has been wrecked in the front end.
How much do car suspension repairs cost?
The cost of car suspension repairs can vary between the year, make, and model of the car. Other factors that can affect the cost are whether the suspension parts can be repaired or if replacement is the only option. Car suspension repairs can cost between $300 and $5,000. Some of the possible car suspension repairs or replacement parts include:
- Shock or struts: Shocks are hydraulic, oil-filled cylinders that work with springs. Struts are a combination of coil and cylinder in a single piece. Both shocks and struts keep the tires on the road in contact with the road and minimize bouncing upon the impact of bumps.
- Coil springs: There is one spring on each wheel and they hold the car’s body weight up and connect it with the suspension system.
- Control arm bushings: These connect the front tires to the car body and allow the tires to move up and down as you drive over bumps. There is a lower and upper control arm on each front wheel for most cars.
- Ball joints: These are a critical part of the suspension system because they connect the car to the suspension and hold the front suspension together.
- Bushings, and sway bar end links: This is also referred to as the stabilization bar. When you turn the car, it minimizes the car’s body roll by distributing the car’s weight evenly to all four wheels and keeps the car from rolling over.
- Tie rods: These connect the car’s cabin to the steering components and control the steering and wheels.
Is it worth replacing the car suspension?
This is a decision made by the car owner and the advice of the mechanic. You’ll need to make the decision based on the cost your mechanic quotes and the age and condition of the car. If the car is older than 12 to 15 years, car suspension repairs or replacement parts of $5,000 may not be worthwhile.
What is the typical lifespan of a car’s suspension system?
Many factors can affect the suspension system of American or European-made cars. The road conditions are a key factor followed by driving style and maintenance routines. The typical lifespan is between 50,000 and 100,000 miles or between 7 and 8 years.
On The Road Again:
Once you have a quote for car suspension repair or replacement, you may wonder if you can keep driving the car. The answer is probably, but it isn’t recommended. As soon as you notice any of the issues with your car’s suspension, the sooner you can get it repaired, the better.
As we mentioned, the suspension is important in keeping your car on the road and making safe turns around corners. As a side note, bad suspension affects the fuel mileage too! If you need car suspension repair in Hopewell and Pennington, NJ, please give us a call at 609-737-7226!