A Quick Guide to your Car’s Suspension

When you take your Toyota in Clermont, Florida, for its routine maintenance, you may need clarification as to what needs replacement or fixing. For example, the suspension is one of the main components of your car, but why? Toyota of Clermont experts are here to help you understand your car suspension. 

What is car suspension? 

The suspension in your car is responsible for maximizing the friction between the tires and the road’s surfaces and also providing safety and comfort. So, for example, if you’ve ever ridden down a bumpy road, all of the commotion can cause disturbances in your car’s elevation. Thankfully the car suspension comes in and provides steering stability to ensure a smooth ride. 

The different components of your car suspension

1. Springs: They help absorb the impact when you drive your car over bumpy roads, potholes, or other irregular surfaces. 
2. Wheels: The wheels work with your suspension to make your Clermont Toyota move. 
3. Shock absorbers: The shock absorbers work with the springs to absorb the shock of driving on the road. If your suspension didn’t have shock absorbers, your Clermont Toyota would bounce up and down each time you went over rough terrain. 
4. Rods: These are metal links connected to different aspects of the car suspension system. 
5. Joints, bearing, and bushings: These elements allow for sliding and twisting from your Clermont Toyota that help your suspension system work smoothly. 
6. Steering system: The steering system is a part of your Clermont Toyota’s suspension system that is responsible for holding your car together if the suspension fails. The steering and suspension systems work together to make the wheels and tires turn and drive. 
7. Frame: The frame carries the entire suspension weight to keep all the parts connected and working correctly. 
8. Struts: Struts are similar to shock absorbers and serve a similar function, but are mounted inside of a coil spring.

What are struts and shocks, exactly?

Let’s talk a little bit more about struts and shocks, two major components of car suspension (and the ones we see people experiencing problems with commonly). While both of them play a big role in keeping you comfortable and safe when you’re on the road, they’re different parts altogether.

Shocks, or shock absorbers, are located behind your tires and are mounted next to the springs. They have one job: to stop the car from bouncing as you drive down the road.

Struts, on the other hand, combine a shock and spring assembly in one unit. These heavy-duty parts are attached to the wheels and serve the purpose of not only softening the ride but also holding the tire in place and providing

If these parts go bad, you can experience major issues in your Clermont Toyota. Bad shocks and struts can lead to other parts failing, a broken steering system, or a blown-out tire. Not sure how to tell if your shocks and struts are going bad? Here are some signs:

• Instability at highway speeds (70 mph+)
• The vehicle “tips” to one side when you’re making turns
• When you hit the brakes hard, the front end of your car dips down significantly
• Contrastingly, when you hit the gas hard, the back end of your car dips down significantly
• Your tires bounce excessively after hitting a bump in the road
• Your tires wearing unevenly because they’re bouncing on the road a lot
• You find leaking fluid on the outside of the shocks or struts

Suspension warning signs 

What about your car suspension in general? How do you know if there’s a problem and that it’s time to visit Toyota of Clermont for auto service and repairs? Here are some surefire signs you’re having issues with this critical component:

• Clunking noises when hitting a bump 
• Bumpy ride 
• Drifting or pulling to one side when turning corners
• Difficulty steering 
• Unusually bumpy rides 
• One of the sides of the car sits lower than the other side

Different suspension options on the Toyota Lineup

If you’re shopping for a new car and want options when it comes to your car suspension, you’re in the right place. Toyota is known for its versatility and doesn’t stop with suspension options. Check out the different suspension options available on the Toyota lineup: 

• X-REAS Sport Enhancement Suspension
• Sport-Tuned Suspension
• Kinetic Dynamic Suspension
• Adaptive Variable Suspension
• TRD Pro Suspension
• TRD Sport-Tuned
• Load-leveling Rear Height Control Air Suspension

Visit Toyota of Clermont to get your car suspension serviced! 

If you suspect you may have a suspension issue on your hands, keep the situation from worsening and bring your wheels into our Toyota of Clermont dealership. You can find us at 16851 State Road 50, just off the Florida Turnpike. We’re open seven days a week for your convenience and are always running service specials. So call and schedule your appointment today at (352) 404-7001.