Suspension & Steering Repair

Signs include excessive bouncing after hitting bumps (the vehicle doesn't settle quickly), nose diving during braking, body roll in turns, uneven tire wear, fluid leaking from the shock/strut body, or clunking sounds over bumps. Most shocks and struts wear gradually, so the change may not be obvious day-to-day. A general guideline is to have them inspected at 50,000 miles and consider replacement between 50,000–100,000 miles depending on driving conditions.

We recommend checking alignment annually or whenever you notice uneven tire wear, the vehicle pulling to one side, or the steering wheel being off-center. You should also check alignment after hitting a significant pothole or curb, after any suspension or steering component replacement, and when installing new tires. Austin's roads and construction zones create plenty of alignment-disrupting impacts. Proper alignment extends tire life and improves fuel economy.

Front-end noises are commonly caused by worn sway bar links or bushings, ball joints with excessive play, worn tie rod ends, strut mount bearings, or loose heat shields. The specific sound and when it occurs helps narrow the cause—clunking over bumps often points to sway bar links, while noise during turns may indicate ball joints or CV joints. A thorough inspection while the vehicle is on a lift reveals the worn components.

Absolutely. Worn shocks/struts cause tires to bounce rather than maintain consistent road contact, creating cupping or scalloped wear. Misalignment from worn ball joints, tie rods, or control arm bushings causes one-sided or diagonal wear patterns. A vehicle with worn suspension can destroy a set of new tires in half the expected mileage. Fixing suspension problems before installing new tires protects your tire investment.