Troubleshooting Problems With Steering and Suspension

Your car's suspension system is an intricate network of cooperating components designed to give you a smooth, even, stable ride. Since the suspension is ground zero when it comes to road abuse, the parts wear out, and even break. If your car doesn't seem to ride like it used to, you may have a problem down below.

1) Symptom: Pulling to one side while driving

• Low or uneven tyre pressure
• Uneven tyre wear
• Vehicle out of alignment
• Worn out steering components
• Sticking brake calliper

2) Symptom: Wheels seem to wander and wiggle rapidly back and forth

• Low or uneven tyre pressure
• One or more wheels out of balance
• Uneven or excessive tyre wear
• Vehicle out of alignment
• Worn steering components

3) Symptom: Car keeps going up and down after you go over a bump

• Worn shocks or struts
• Broken or slipped leaf spring

4) Symptom: Steering seems to be slipping

• Low power steering fluid
• Loose or worn power steering belt
• Bad power steering pump
• Leaking power steering rack
• Broken steering rack mounts

5) Symptom: Hard to steer

• Low power steering fluid
• Loose or worn power steering belt
• Bad power steering pump
• Leaking power steering rack

6) Symptom: Steering wheel vibrates at speed

• Wheels out of balance
• Tyres worn unevenly or excessively
• Loose wheel bolts
• Warped brake rotor

7) Symptom: Loose or sloppy steering

• Power steering fluid low
• Worn strut bearings
• Worn or broken tie rods or steering rack
• Worn ball joints
• Broken steering rack mounts

8) Symptom: Clunking over bumps

• Worn shocks or struts
• Worn strut bearings
• Worn ball joints

9) Symptom: Screeching and screaming when steering at low speeds

• Low power steering fluid
• Loose power steering belt
• Worn power steering belt

Remember, this is a guide to help you diagnose steering or suspension problems. Sometimes more than one issue needs to be addressed to fix the symptoms.