

When facing these types of symptoms, look to the tires and wheel hubs before assuming its the suspension. These symptoms are most often related to your tires and wheel assemblies. These symptoms can often feel like the vehicle is bouncing or swaying, and lead you to believe the suspension is going bad.
#CAR FEELS LIKE DRIVING ON A BUMPY ROAD DRIVER#
This means forces not compensated for by the suspension can be transferred through the steering wheel and felt by the driver there. The steering wheel is connected to its linkage, which then ties into the suspension beyond the steering box. Sign 1: A gradual increase in shaking of the steering wheel. Part 1 of 2: Common signs something is wrong Although they do have commonalities that make diagnosis a little easier. Other words used to describe bounce are “shimmy,” “vibration,” and “shake.” As a quick reminder, there are many different design setups for suspension, and some of these tips may or may not apply to your vehicle. Struts and shock absorbers are typically the first to be blamed when it comes to a bouncy ride, when in fact the bounce can be from an out of round tire, damaged rim, or unbalanced tire, just to name a few.Īnother fact to keep in mind is that steering and suspension are very closely related, and can be misdiagnosed as one or the other. Here we give you some of the most common issues, and what can be done to resolve them. We will give you some better terminology for different issues, and attempt to give you a better understanding of suspension components. It's important to remember that the term “bouncy” is very broad, and can be used to describe a wide variety of symptoms.

If your car is already valued at $5,000 or less, a damaged suspension likely means the end of an era.Unless intentionally powered by hydraulics, a bouncing vehicle while driving can be stressful and annoying. You can expect to pay between $200-$5,000 on replacing your suspension. It’s not safe to drive with a bad suspension, and pushing your luck by continuing to drive with a bad suspension will cause a lot more damage to your car. Way too dangerous to lose steering control.ĭriving on a flat tire isn’t safe, and it can completely wreck your wheel, causing a much more expensive fix than just a tire or a patch. Repair ASAP.ĭriving on damaged struts isn’t safe- it will damage your car and it’s uncomfortable, too.ĭriving a car with damaged springs is unwise, as it will be too difficult to control in an emergency and one bump can leave you without a tire.ĭon’t make quick turns and drive slowly because you won’t be able to react quickly in an emergency. Don’t turn or stop suddenly, and don’t get on the freeway or go fast with a damaged shock absorber. Your car will be uncomfortable and hard to drive. If your wheel is completely broken, your car won’t move.
#CAR FEELS LIKE DRIVING ON A BUMPY ROAD CRACKED#
If you attempt to drive with a cracked wheel, it can break in an instant and cause a crash. If you’re desperate to get by in the very short term, here’s our cheat sheet to follow at your own risk:Ĭan I (Technically) Drive With It Temporarily?ĭriving with a damaged drive shaft can cause further damage to your suspension and your car.ĭamaged control arms put uneven wear on your tires and make your car hard to handle. You don’t have to spend a fortune on new parts- ask us about our massive selection of used suspension replacement parts for an affordable alternative to fix your car. The short answer to if you can drive with a damaged suspension is “no.” Address suspension issues as they arise to prevent further, more expensive damage to your car and to make sure your car is safe to drive. If your car is hard to steer, your car might have:Ī problem with your steering fluid levelsĪ tire rubbing against the frame of your carīack to top Can I Drive My Car with a Bad Suspension?
