How to tell when your suspension needs repair or when it’s time to replace the shock absorbers?

[Charls33]

A couple of days ago, I started noticing my car bouncing more than usual whenever I hit a small bump or a pothole. It also feels like the steering wheel vibrates a bit when driving on uneven roads. I thought maybe it was just the tires, but now I’m not so sure. I haven’t replaced the shock absorbers since I bought the car five years ago, so maybe it’s about time. What are the usual signs that the suspension or shocks really need attention? I don’t want to ignore it and end up with bigger problems later.

 

[barry.b21]

Yeah, that totally sounds like what happened with my old SUV. I started feeling every bump, and then there were these Squeaky brakes noises whenever I went over speed bumps. At first, I thought it was something with the brakes, but turns out the shocks were leaking. I found a detailed explanation about symptoms like uneven tire wear, drifting, and poor handling here: https://www.vip-servicecenter.com/. It helped me figure out that when the ride feels rougher or the car doesn’t stay stable when turning, that’s a clear sign the suspension system needs checking. After replacing mine, the difference was night and day — so much smoother!