Suspension Repair from Heritage Auto Repair in Meridian and Caldwell, ID
A car's suspension is responsible for maximizing the friction between your tires and the road's surface, to provide the most steering stability with good handling and to make sure you and your passengers are comfortable during the drive. If the roads in ID were perfectly flat, there would be no need for suspension in your vehicle. However, all roads, even Ada County’s highways, have subtle imperfections that come in contact with the wheels of the car and apply force to the wheels. A bump in the road causes your tires to move up and down, perpendicular to the road's surface. Without an intervening system, all of this vertical energy produced by the wheels will transfer to your vehicle's frame, which will move in the same direction. Without your suspension system, even the wheels of your car can bounce off the road and then come back down with gravity. Your suspension is a system that will absorb the energy of the vertically accelerated wheel, allowing the frame and body to ride undisturbed while the wheels follow bumps in the road. Fortunately, we at Heritage Auto Repair are experts in diagnosing and repairing Suspension.
How does my vehicle's suspension work?
The three fundamental components of a vehicle's suspension are the springs, dampers, and anti-sway bars. Within these components, there are numerous parts called struts, shocks, axles, and the control arm. The sprung mass in a vehicle is the mass of the vehicle supported by springs, and the unsprung mass is the mass that is not supported by springs. The stiffness of the springs determines how the sprung mass responds to the car as you drive. Loosely sprung cars, like luxury cars from Toyota or Honda, can absorb bumps and produce a smooth ride, but those cars are more prone to body sway and are not great at cornering. Tightly sprung cars, like sports cars by Ford and Hyundai, are less forgiving on the road but can be driven more aggressively. Effectively aligned steering, as well as suspension, can provide a smooth and controlled cruising in Meridian and Caldwell, ID.
Springs alone are not enough to absorb the vertical acceleration produced by your car's wheels. The spring will continue to bounce until it runs out of energy, causing a very bumpy ride. To prevent this, your vehicle has shock absorbers that slow the springs down through a process called dampening. Shock absorbers slow down and reduce the magnitude of vibratory motions by turning the kinetic energy of suspension movement into heat energy that can be dissipated through hydraulic fluid. Anti-sway bars are used with shock absorbers and springs to stabilize vehicles as they move. An anti-sway bar is a metal rod that joins each side of the suspension together.
When I am driving down the street in Meridian and Caldwell, how do I know something is wrong with my vehicle's suspension?
Before you consider suspension repair services, you have to recognize whether you have an issue with your system. The majority of the time, you. Here are five signs to watch out for that indicate your vehicle needs a steering and suspension service:
- Car rides roughly.
If every bump in the road causes your car to bounce, there is definitely a problem with your vehicle's suspension.
- Drifting or pulling during turns.
If your car is drifting, this means your suspension isn't keeping your vehicle stable when you turn.
- Dips or "nose dives" when stopping.
You may also notice that your vehicle is taking longer to reach a complete stop.
- Uneven tire treads.
- Damaged, "oily" shocks.
If you look under your vehicle and your shocks and/or struts look greasy or oily, they are probably leaking.
If you are experiencing these problems and are in or nearby the 83642-2440 area, you can come to Heritage Auto Repair for a suspension repair today.
Your award-winning local Shop for Suspension Repair
We at Heritage Auto Repair in Ada County are experts in all things auto repair. We've been fixing cars since 1999 and our owner Tony Zanders and technicians have decades of combined experience. No matter what issue you are having with your vehicle, we have a multitude of services you can take advantage of, such as scheduled maintenance, oil changes, fluid services and tune-ups, tune-ups, and transmission repair.
Here are some reasons why you should choose us:
- Family owned and operated since we opened
- Voted “Best in the Treasure Valley” and “Best in Idaho” for automotive repair in 2020
- Currently a nationally recognized “Gold Certified” Napa Autocare Center
- Shuttle service to get you where you need to be
- We have a review score of 5 based on reviews from 800 satisfied customers.
- Our diverse team is sure to have an expert in the make and model of your vehicle
To schedule an appointment with Heritage Auto Repair in Meridian and Caldwell, give us a call at 208-887-1442 or schedule an appointment online.
Heritage Auto Repair - "Best in the Treasure Valley".
