C.A.R.S. has been voted best car care service in Orleans and Jefferson Parish. Trust our trained staff!
If you are in an accident, aside from the cosmetic dents and scratches it is possible that your vehicle’s suspension system was also damaged. In most cases, the suspension system does not show any visible signs of damage. Since there are many components involved, it is necessary to inspect it regularly, document any irregularity and get it fixed as soon as possible.
One general rule that you must follow while inspecting the suspension system is that you must never try to straighten or do a quick fix of any affected component. It is always better, for safety reasons, to get it replaced.
CARS is your trustworthy and reliable maintenance, repair and automotive spare parts industry experts. Our technicians are trained & certified to diagnosis, repair and service your vehicles suspension system:
- Shocks/Struts
- Ball Joints
- Leaf Springs
- Coil Springs
- King Pins
- Control Arms
- Drive Axles
- Air Ride Systems
- Tires/Wheels
- Alignment
Shocks / Struts
Shocks / struts are one of the basic but equally important components of the rear suspension. In some cars you may find shocks and in some struts. The difference between the two being that a strut is smaller, compatible for a lighter vehicle and gives more room space to function. These components control the movement of the car and the rotation of your steering wheel.
Never drive a car with worn out shocks / struts. It is like driving your car with failed brakes or tires without anti-skid system. It is essential that you get your shocks / struts checked if your vehicle has more than 60,000 miles.
Ball Joints
Ball joints are tiny, stud like components that rotate between the suspension and the wheels of your car. They play a very important role in the steering and suspension of your vehicle. The ball joints are enclosed in a steel casing. This prevents dust or other elements from entering and corroding the ball joints.
Make it a point to inspect the ball joints at least once a year and replace them if your car has more than 80 thousand miles. Also, if you hear a clicking sound when you turn the wheel, which, if continued, will turn into a squeak; it indicates that its time to replace the ball joints.
Do not, at any given point, wait for the joints to fail. If that happens, it will result in loss of control of the wheels and your car will come to an abrupt stop, therefore damaging the tires.
Coil Springs
When your car’s wheels take in the bumps and the potholes of a badly damaged road, it is the coil springs which absorb the tension created by such irregularities in an otherwise smooth drive.
Coil springs are basically a spring for the front and rear suspension systems. So when the wheel takes in and transfers the shock to the coil springs, just like a spring, it compresses and takes the impact of the blow and then recoils to its original position.
To maintain its flexibility, coil springs are manufactured out of elements such as metal, silicon and chromium. Since they are designed to carry heavy loads of force, they must be light weight. Some manufacturers make coil springs with a vinyl coating. This is to prevent them from corrupting or corroding and also to reduce the noise.
Control Arms
Ever felt carsick while traveling long distance? The reason may be a faulty control arm in your car’s suspension system.
Control arms are one of the most important parts of your vehicle’s suspension system. It is solely responsible for preventing car sickness, as it manages the rotation of the car tires in relation to the movement of the vehicle.
Too much or too little coordination and they not only leave the passengers nauseous but can also wear out the rest of the suspension system in your car. And just like other parts in a car, control arms also require regular lubrication to prevent them from corrosion and malfunctioning.
Drive Axles
The axle driven by the vehicle is called the drive axle. Drive axles are the central shaft used for rotating wheel or a gear. In some vehicles, this part is fixed with a bearing, sitting inside the hole of the wheel, to allow wheel rotation around the axle.
Drive axles help in maintaining the position of the wheels to each other and to the body of the vehicle. They are split with differential and universal joints between the two half axles. Each half connects to the wheel using a constant velocity joint. This joint allows the wheel assembly to move freely.
Air Ride Systems
Air ride systems replace stock suspension components. They increase payload capacity and alter the vehicle’s ride height. Your vehicle will ride hard or soft depending on how much pressure is in the system. Replacing them is very simple. It is as easy as replacing few valves and tubing with a set of shocks.
Tires/wheels
Tires on your car’s wheels provide the suspension you need for a smooth drive. Making sure they have the right psi of air will improve your car’s performance on the road, keep you safe and save gas. Tires come in two types, bias ply and radial ply, the latter being the preferred and most commonly used type for cars.
The tire’s strength comes from a strong steel bead running around each side, which allows it to be mounted on the wheel. The plies in a tire are constructed of steel mesh, nylon and polyester, sealed in a rubber coating. During the vulcanizing process, the tires are molded and treads are formed as well as the markings on the walls.
Different treads on tires allow them to be driven in different road conditions. All season tires can be used under normal conditions but extreme conditions such as slippery, wet, snow-covered or muddy roads, require specialized tires. These have larger grooves that provide greater traction and are indicated by certain markings.
Wheel alignment and tire pressure are some important factors to check while changing tires. Bad alignment and under inflation can make tires wear out quickly and make driving unsafe.
Alignment
Wheel alignment is a task that involves adjustment of wheel angles. Wheel alignment and balancing are not the same. Poorly aligned wheels can wear out your tires and cause problems with steering and tracking.
The wheels must be parallel to each other and perpendicular to the ground in order to help your vehicle drive straight and your tires last longer. The process of aligning a car’s wheels starts and ends with a test drive.
The technician uses an instrument to check the alignment and make three measurements – caster, camber, and toe. If you have a modern car, it will only have adjustments for toe. The mechanic will then make adjustments on the front wheels or on all four wheels, depending on whether your car has rear adjustments.
New Orleans Auto Repair 