5 Car Suspension Modifications and

Repairs for the Best Driving Experience

One of the most complicated parts of any vehicle is the car suspension system. Unless you have access to a ramp or an inspection pit, it is highly unlikely that you will ever actually see a lot of the components fitted to your vehicle; but you are likely to hear about them when it comes to your MOT or if you need repairs doing.

A professional or experienced mechanic will have looked at numerous different suspension systems and components and will be immediately aware of what problems may have arisen, may be about to occur or what can be done to make improvements in order to smooth out the ride of your trusted vehicle.

While that might sound quite daunting, and potentially expensive, it really doesn’t have to be. Not only because Euro Car Parts provides a range of high quality car suspension parts at low prices, but also because there are a lot of modifications and adjustments that you can make yourself with a little bit of know-how, a few tools and plenty of elbow grease.

In this handy guide we’ll take you through five car suspension modifications and repairs to get the best possible driving experience.

Shock Absorbers

As the name suggests, shock absorbers take the brunt of the impact when your car goes over a bump in the road of any kind, from tree roots to drains. Without a healthy shock absorber the ride of your vehicle would feel particularly rigid and you can arrive at your destination in a great deal of discomfort. (We recently covered the role of shock absorbers and how they work on our blog, so click here to find out more detail).

You can normally tell when a shock absorber has reached the end of its lifespan because the car will start to either drift to one side, dip under braking if the affected shock is at the front, or the ride will get significantly less comfortable.

The shocks can be changed in favour of performance parts which have been created with sporty cars in mind. They react far more quickly and can produce a much smoother ride than typical family hatchback shock absorbers for instance. Not a job for a novice mechanic, but the kind of task that can be done at home if you have experience and expertise at hand.

Suspension Bushes

These particular parts play a crucial role in absorbing a lot of the vibrations caused by the movement of the car, and are located at the join t between the suspension and the chassis.

If you notice a significant noise or vibration when you either go over a bump or brake sharply, causing the suspension system to work hard, then it may be caused by worn or damaged suspension bushes. Over time the sheer exertion of the bushes will take its toll and they will need to be replaced or it could cause damage to the vehicle.

These particular parts will need to be worked on with the help of experts, but they are the kind of suspension parts that you can keep an eye on at home when you are doing your routine car maintenance. Simply take the car out for a drive on a quiet, country road (if possible), and sharply apply the brakes so that the suspension is forced to work hard.

Air Suspension

This is an upgrade to the standard steel suspension system on many vehicles. The tried and trusted method is still very good, but air suspension can make the car feel as though it is sitting on a mattress at times.

While this isn’t necessarily the kind of upgrade that you can be working on yourself, it is by no means impossible for several people who know how to fit parts and accessories and who don’t mind getting their hands dirty to work on this in a home workshop or garage.

Suspension Fluid

Like most crucial moving parts, the suspension system needs to remain well lubricated. Your suspension fluid can make the difference between a long-lasting suspension system that provides all of the support you need, and one that stops working and starts to erode itself as the metal parts grind together.

You can find out the best suspension fluid for your make and model by checking your owner’s handbook, or by speaking to one of our experts who will be happy to advise you on the best car lubricants and fluids for you.

anti - roll bar

Introduced to most vehicles from around the 1950s, an anti-roll bar attempts to do what the name suggests. Usually bolted to the underside of the car it keeps the chassis as rigid as possible to prevent the wheels from leaving the ground and the car from rolling over as it turns sharply.

In order to fit an anti-roll bar, or to upgrade a damaged one that was already attached to your vehicle, you will need to have access to either a suspension pit or car jacks so that you can safely get underneath your vehicle. It is highly recommended that you have some kind of assistance, although there are a series of instructional videos available online that will show you how to spot the signs of a damaged anti-roll bar and how to replace it.