Southampton NY area suspension repair, strut replacement, shock replacement, wheel alignment. All make and model. BMW & Mercedes-Benz specialist. German Import, European Import, Asian Import, domestic vehicles.
Your vehicle’s suspension system plays an important role in the safety of your vehicle. The steering and suspension system, together with the tires, determine how your car will ride and handle. You should have both inspected at least once a year. To ensure vehicle safety and prevent expensive repairs it is highly recommended that routine wheel alignments, tire rotations, and wheel balancing be performed.
An easy way to keep up with your vehicle routine inspections is to request our “Annual Vehicle Physical”.
What does suspension do?
The suspension system connects the wheels to your vehicle's frame or body. The suspension system works with the steering system to provide vehicle control. When working properly, the suspension system smooths out road dips and pot-holes and helps maintain vehicle stability and control.
Wheel Alignment
Wheel alignment Southampton NY. Joe's Garage Inc. performs front-end alignment, struts replacement, shocks replacement, and suspension repair in Southampton NY.
Wheel alignment is an important part of the suspension repair & maintenance. Joe’s Garage Inc. has the latest four-wheel alignment technology to keep your vehicle rolling straight & true. Using lasers and wheel-mounted sensors we can consistently perform very accurate 4-wheel alignment in Southampton NY. See details about our wheel alignment service near Southampton, NY.
Benefits of Wheel Alignment
Maximize tire life by having your wheel alignment checked and adjusted every year. With the very expensive, specialized tires required on many of today's vehicles, you want to squeeze out every last mile for maximum value. Routine wheel alignment also decreases premature wear of expensive suspension parts.
Rotating & Balancing Tires
To get maximum tire life your tires should also be rotated and balanced at regular intervals.
Joe's Garage Inc. uses a state-of-the-art tire machine that allows us to remove and install today's high-performance tires on any type of wheel. We are a Southampton NY tire shop with car tires, SUV tires, light truck tires, 4x4 truck tires, and high-performance tires.
Tire rotation is important for even tread wear and long tire life. When performed at the recommended times, tire rotation will ensure that your tires wear evenly and prolong useful tire life. Tire rotation ensures maximum tire life by evening the different tire wear rates from front to rear axles and preventing the front tires from wearing out before the rear tires. This prevents you from having to buy a completely new set before all four are evenly worn out. Tires should be rotated at regular intervals which can be conveniently done during every other oil change. For most vehicles, this would put tire rotation at about every 14,000 miles.
Tire balancing should be done every 20,000 miles (every third oil change) or about once a year. Wheel balancing decreases the wear of suspension parts, shock absorbers, and struts. Tire balancing pays for itself in the long run. Joe's Garage Inc. has a very accurate computerized tire balancer to keep your car rolling smoothly and decrease expensive repairs.
Normal Wear and Tear
Suspension components normally wear out over time and require replacement. How long suspension components last depends on the type of vehicle, how and where it is used, and if regular maintenance is performed. Regular inspections and maintenance are critical to maintain vehicle safety and decrease repair costs.
Joe's Garage Inc. does wheel balancing Southampton NY area. Computerized tire balancing, custom wheel balance, oversized wheel balance, wheel rotation, and tire rotation in Southampton NY.
Factors that affect suspension wear include:
- Vehicle type;
- Driving habits;
- Road conditions;
- Operating conditions;
- Type of steering and suspension system;
- Frequency of regular maintenance such as chassis lubrication and wheel alignment.
Suspension Wear Symptoms
- Pulling;
- Uneven tire wear;
- "Loose" steering feeling;
- Noise and vibration while cornering;
- Wandering or poor directional stability.
Common Tire Wear Causes
Tire wear caused by wheel alignment, tire rotation, and wheel balance problems.
- Tire wear resulting from wheel alignment problem. Usually caused by suspension and steering part wear or damage caused by impact or collision. The inside or outside of the tire is worn off at a very noticeable angle.
- Tire wear is caused by over-inflation (tire pressure too high). The middle section of the tire tread is forced outward by excess pressure and wears at a higher rate than the outside edges.
- Tire wear caused by underinflation (low tire pressure). The most common problem we see during our Annual Vehicle Inspection service! The tire can not support the weight of the vehicle forcing the middle section of the tire tread inward causing excess wear on both outside edges of the tire tread.
- Tire wear is caused by worn-out the worn-out the shock absorbers or struts and or incorrect tire balancing. Worn patches on tire caused by the tire bouncing on the road creating high stress and excessive tire wear. Caused by either incorrect tire balance or worn shock absorbers. Often out-of-balance tires cause shock or struts to wear prematurely which amplifies tire bounce and high tire wear.
Diagram of suspension components for strut replacement Southampton NY.
Suspension Types
The most common front suspensions used on vehicles are the independent control arm and McPherson strut suspension systems (used on front-wheel drive and some rear-wheel drive vehicles).
Control arm suspensions are commonly used on rear-wheel drive vehicles. With this design, the shock absorber and coil spring are positioned between the upper and lower control arms. Ball joints are used to attach the outer ends of the control arms to the spindle. This type of front suspension most often uses coil springs and shock absorbers are used to dampen suspension movement.
Diagram of control arm suspension repair Southampton NY and Shock absorber repair Southampton NY.
McPherson strut suspension is found most frequently on compact and subcompact cars, both domestic and imported. With this type of suspension, the shock absorber, strut, and spindle are a combined unit, which is supported by the coil spring at the upper end and the lower control arm (sometimes called track control arm or transverse link) at the bottom. There is only one ball joint in this design, and it is attached to the lower part of the spindle. The shock absorber is built into the strut's outer casing. On some models, the strut cartridge may be replaced separately. On other models, the entire strut assembly must be replaced.
Shock Absorbers
The purpose of the shock absorber is simply to limit the motion of the spring during compression and rebound cycles. If the vehicle is not equipped with these motion dampers, the up and down motion would multiply until the vehicle was alternately trying to leap off the ground and pound itself into the pavement.
Shock absorber and strut replacement Southampton NY.
Shock absorbers do not affect the ride height of the vehicle, unless they are pneumatic or air-adjustable shocks. Worn shock absorbers can affect handling and cause excessive wear of suspension parts.
While each shock absorber can be physically replaced individually, it is recommended that shock absorbers be changed as a complete set to maintain equal response on both sides of the vehicle. Shock absorber replacement should be done in complete sets. Failure to replace shock absorbers in complete sets could result in dangerous vehicle handling situations.
Strut Frequently Asked Questions
Is a wheel alignment needed after strut replacement?
Yes, a wheel alignment is required when struts are replaced. A suspension strut has two functions. First, it is a shock absorber that dampens vehicle body movement from bumps in the road and turning corners. Struts are also a major steering component that needs to be realigned after removal. If a wheel alignment is not performed your vehicle will suffer poor handling, rapid tire wear, and decreased fuel mileage.
Signs Your Vehicle Needs New Shocks or Struts
Your vehicle may need new shocks and struts if:
- Poor Vehicle Handling - you experience a generally bouncy or rough vehicle ride; poor steering response, stiffness, or noise when steering; "nose dive" or instability when braking; or swaying or leaning when turning or changing lanes.
- High Mileage - testing has shown that at approximately 50,000 miles your original shocks and struts may be worn to the point of needing replacing (depending on vehicle and driving conditions).
- Visual Signs - there are noticeable fluid leaks; if the shocks, struts, or mounts look dented or damaged; or if your tires show unusual wear patterns (example: cupping).
If you notice signs that your shocks or struts may need replacing, get your vehicle inspected by one of our suspension experts.
