What is car suspension?

The suspension of a vehicle is a component which allows the driver (and passengers alike) to experience a stable and comfortable ride. It absorbs the lumps, bumps and dips in the road that vehicles encounter on every journey - while allowing the driver to brake, accelerate and travel around corners safely. It's an integral part of your vehicle and, without it, your car would be very unsafe to drive.

What does suspension do for a car?

So, how does car suspension work? Suspension is a major component of your vehicle, and operates through a variety of complex elements, such as springs, linkages and shock absorbers. The combination of these components works together to reduce vibrations while absorbing as much of the impact from the road as possible. Find out more information on steering and suspension and how it works from our detailed guide.

How long does car suspension last?

Generally, car suspension is likely to last around 5 years. However, this depends on many factors including how many miles the vehicle is driven, the terrain it?s exposed to and the driving style - meaning that it is not possible to suggest a guaranteed time measurement on how long car suspension could or will last. It's all dependent on the way the vehicle is driven, and how well it's taken care of.

How to detect problems with suspension

Suspension should be properly looked after and maintained - but often, it can be difficult to identify that there is a problem. What are signs of suspension problems to look out for?

• Abnormal tyre tread depth - is your tyre tread depth wearing unevenly? It may be that there is a problem with your suspension. However, this is also a symptom of other monitoring issues - so to diagnose the problem accurately, it's best to speak to an expert.
• Instability - if you're experiencing a significant lack of stability, the vehicle may be dipping to one side as a spring in the system may have broken.
• Bumpy ride - if you're experiencing a bumpy ride, there may be problems with your vehicle suspension. You'd notice this if the car is bouncier and less stable than usual.

Still have questions about what is car suspension and how it works? Our trained experts can help. Book in for your own suspension health check today from your local Tyre Group branch.