Suspension is the system of tires, tire air, springs, shock absorbers and linkages that connects a vehicle to its wheels and allows relative motion between the two. Car Suspension systems must support both road holding/handling and ride quality, which are at odds with each other.

HOW DOES A TIRE SUSPENSION WORK?

The purpose of a tire suspension is to keep the wheels on the road and the vehicle steady. The suspension joins the wheels to the car body and increases the friction between the road and tires. It makes the car stable, allows easy steering and provides a comfortable ride. 

To understand how tire suspension works, one must observe how roads and wheels interact. All roads, even the smoothest one, have bumps and irregularities. When tires come in contact with these edges and cuts, they exert a force back on the tires. In the absence of a system absorbing this force and shock, the car body will jump up or sideways. Car suspension ensures shock absorption to keep the car steady on the road. 

Furthermore, the car suspension system ensures effective movement of the vehicle on a sharp turn. If not for car suspension, the balance of the vehicle would be disturbed with more weight on one side – a classic vehicular disaster.

Routine Suspension Maintenance

The suspension system is one of the areas of a car that tends to be the most neglected when it comes to routine maintenance. Most people are at least somewhat good about changing their oil and have a sense that brake pads and other similar vehicle maintenance is important.

But when it comes to staying on top of the condition of their struts or shocks, or replacing worn out bushings, or having regular wheel alignments, many people ignore warning signals and end up paying the price (both literally and figuratively) in the long run when a major part fails, and they can’t ignore it any longer.

Like any system within your car, your vehicle’s suspension needs regular inspection and maintenance. A periodic wheel alignment can serve to both identify potential suspension problems and keep the suspension in good shape.