Buying a used car can save you a lot of money, but only if you know what to look for during the inspection process. One of the most overlooked areas is the suspension system. A bad suspension can lead to uncomfortable rides, uneven tire wear, steering problems, and costly repairs down the road. Whether you’re buying from a private seller or browsing through used car dealers Wichita Falls, understanding how to check the suspension is crucial. Below are five key suspension checkpoints that every buyer should inspect before making a decision.
Check for Uneven Tire Wear
One of the easiest signs that something is off with a vehicle’s suspension system is uneven tire wear. You don’t have to be a mechanic to spot this issue—just kneel down and take a close look at each tire.
What to Look For
Inspect the tread on all four tires. If the inner or outer edges are more worn than the center, or if one tire has significantly more wear than the others, that’s a red flag. This often indicates problems with alignment, which is directly connected to the suspension system.
Why It Matters
Suspension components like control arms, bushings, and shocks keep your tires aligned and balanced. If any of those are worn or damaged, your tires won’t make proper contact with the road. Over time, this will ruin your tires and decrease your safety on the road.
If the car you’re considering has new tires, that’s great—but ask to see records of any recent suspension work. Replacing tires without fixing the root suspension problem just masks the issue temporarily.
Bounce Test for Shocks and Struts
This is a classic and simple test that anyone can perform. It gives you a quick idea of how well the car’s shocks and struts are absorbing movement.
How to Perform It
Push down firmly on the front or rear of the vehicle and quickly release it. Watch how the car reacts. It should bounce once, maybe twice, and then return to its normal position.
What Failure Looks Like
If the car continues to bounce up and down several times, the shocks or struts are likely worn out. These components are essential for keeping your car stable during acceleration, braking, and cornering.
Cost of Repair
Replacing shocks or struts can be expensive depending on the vehicle model, often ranging from a few hundred to over a thousand dollars. Spotting this issue early can save you from an You can also ask them to perform the bounce test or even provide a service record to confirm when the suspension components were last inspected or replaced.
Inspect the Suspension Components Visually
A visual inspection can reveal damaged, rusted, or leaking parts that are part of the suspension system. While you might not have a lift or a pit like a mechanic, you can still look under the car and spot obvious issues.
Key Components to Examine
- Shocks and struts: Look for oil leakage which indicates failure.
- Springs: Should be intact, not broken or sagging.
- Ball joints and control arms: These should not look overly rusty or misaligned.
- Bushings: Worn or cracked rubber bushings can make a vehicle feel unstable.
Tools Needed
You’ll only need a flashlight and maybe a phone camera to get a clearer look. It helps to bring a friend who can push the car slightly while you check for excessive movement in suspension parts.
Even if you’re not a mechanic, trust your eyes. If something looks like it’s about to fall apart, it probably will.
Listen for Clunks and Knocks During a Test Drive
The test drive is your best opportunity to experience how the suspension behaves in real driving conditions. Listen closely for any unusual sounds, especially when going over bumps or turning.
Sounds to Watch Out For
- Clunking or knockingwhen hitting potholes or speed bumps often means worn-out control arms or sway bar links.
- Squeakingcould indicate dry bushings or misaligned parts.
- Grindingmight point to wheel bearing issues, which are connected to suspension and steering systems.
How to Test It Properly
Try to take the car on a road that has a variety of surfaces. Go over a speed bump, drive through a parking lot with some cracks, and turn the steering wheel all the way in both directions to see how the car responds.
Many buyers focus only on the engine noise, but the suspension has its own language—and it’s trying to tell you something if you listen carefully.
Check Steering Response and Handling
While not a suspension component itself, the steering system is closely linked to how the suspension performs. Poor steering response or difficulty turning can indicate deeper issues within the suspension framework.
What You Should Feel
- Smooth turningwith no delays
- No pullingto one side when driving straight
- Steering wheel returnsto center quickly after a turn
- No vibrationsin the steering wheel at various speeds
What It Means
If the steering feels loose or overly stiff, you might be looking at worn tie rods, ball joints, or bushings. If the car pulls to one side, it may need an alignment—or worse, it could have a bent suspension component from a previous accident.
Don’t be afraid to take a few extra minutes to test the vehicle at various speeds and in different turning scenarios. Your safety and driving comfort depend on it.
Conclusion
Suspension issues might not always be obvious at first glance, but they can become expensive and dangerous problems down the line. That’s why it’s so important to know what to look for when shopping for a used vehicle. From uneven tire wear to knocking sounds during test drives, each of these five suspension checkpoints helps you make a smarter, safer decision.
Always take the time to inspect these areas before signing anything. A few minutes of attention today can save you from thousands in repairs tomorrow. Make your used car purchase a win by keeping suspension health at the top of your checklist.
