What Does Suspension Fault Mean?
2 Answers
Suspension fault means that there is a malfunction in the vehicle's suspension system. Common causes of faults are as follows: 1. Wear of ball joints or loosening of ball joint screws: Fault description: When the vehicle encounters bumps, a "clunking" sound is heard from the chassis. Fault inspection: Lift the vehicle and gently shake the tires to check the gap size, or use a pry bar to check the gap and looseness of each ball joint. Solution: Tighten the bolts and replace the new connecting rod, connecting ball joint, etc. 2. Aging or damage of the control arm rubber buffer: Fault description: When the vehicle encounters bumps, a "clunking" sound is heard from the chassis. Fault inspection: Use a pry bar to check each buffer rubber for cracks or aging. Solution: Replace the new swing arm buffer rubber or the new swing arm assembly. 3. Oil leakage or damage of the shock absorber: Fault description: A "clunking" or "squeaking" sound is heard when encountering bumps. Fault inspection: Check the shock absorber for signs of oil leakage, press the four corners of the car by hand to check the body's bounce and any abnormal sounds. Solution: Replace the new shock absorber. 4. Abnormal noise from the top rubber or plane bearing: Fault description: There is a "thumping" noise when passing over speed bumps, and a "squeaking" sound when turning the steering wheel in place. Fault inspection: Listen for sounds when turning the steering wheel in place or when lifting the car and turning the steering wheel. Solution: Replace the new top rubber or plane bearing, or add lubricant. Some sounds are caused by loose screws on the shock absorber. 5. Abnormal noise from the stabilizer bar bushing: Fault description: There is a "clunking" or "creaking" noise when driving and braking. Fault inspection: Check both sides of the bushing for clean, worn areas, and some are not easily detectable, usually eliminated by replacement. Solution: Replace the new stabilizer bar bushing. 6. Loosening of connecting and fastening parts: Fault description: A "clunking" noise occurs when encountering bumps. Fault inspection: Use a pry bar to check for looseness in each part. Solution: Tighten the loose screws.
I previously experienced suspension failure with my old car, which made it sway and wobble while driving, especially when going over speed bumps—it was extremely bumpy. Simply put, suspension failure means there's an issue with the car's suspension system underneath, such as leaking shock absorbers or deformed springs, leading to an unstable body. Driving like this for a long time can accelerate tire wear and make the car prone to skidding when braking, which is quite dangerous. I think if you encounter this situation, first listen for any unusual noises or check if one side of the tires is more worn than the other—these can help you make a preliminary judgment. It's best not to delay and take it to a professional shop for inspection as soon as possible to avoid minor issues turning into major repairs, which can be costly and troublesome.
