Collision Repair
Even a minor collision can have a serious impact on your vehicle’s suspension. From car alignment issues to uneven tire wear, it’s not uncommon for the smallest of accidents to create considerable safety risks and driving challenges.
If you’re wondering whether you need to repair suspension post-car accident, learn more about symptoms, risks, and repair timelines below.
Common Signs of Suspension Damage
If your vehicle doesn’t have significant damage after an accident, it’s only natural to think that there’s no need to take it to a collision repair business. After all, there’s nothing to fix! While you can’t typically see suspension damage, it can become obvious in the following ways:
- Rapid tread loss or uneven tire wear, which suggests that the tires aren’t being held firmly against the road.
- Pulling to one side while driving, pointing to alignment issues, worn components, or broken springs.
- Swaying, bumping, bouncing, and general roughness while you drive, which indicate that the struts or shocks aren’t absorbing impact properly.
- Unusual sounds, such as squeaking and clunking over bumps, which can point to worn suspension bushings or ball joints.
- Uneven vehicle stance or a lower ride height than normal, which indicates that your vehicle could have a broken spring.
Whether you’ve noticed one of these signs or all of them, contact suspension experts at an auto body shop as soon as possible.
Most Common Forms of Suspension Damage After An Accident
You might know that you’re at risk of suspension damage in a car accident, but that doesn’t mean you know which form of damage. These are the most common after a collision:
- Damaged struts and shock absorbers, particularly during front-end and rear-end collisions
- Misaligned wheels and steering geometry from impact, which disrupts the factory-set alignment
- Bent control arms and links from impact to a wheel or side-impact collision
- Broken or cracked coil springs, with high-impact hits causing the springs to bend beyond their limits or snap
- Torn or damaged bushings from the stress of the crash, which causes rubber parts to tear or deform
- Damaged tie rods, often caused by direct front-wheel impact, which makes a car dangerous or impossible to drive
The Risks of Not Taking Action
As inconvenient as it can seem to have to take your vehicle to a body shop for suspension repairs, it’s worth it when you learn the consequences of not doing so.
Reduced Safety and Poor Handling
The most significant risk associated with not addressing suspension damage after a car accident is reduced safety and unstable handling. For example, when damaged suspension can’t keep all four tires firmly on the road for proper handling, braking, and steering, you’re at risk of losing control. Damaged struts or shocks can also increase stopping distances and trigger premature ABS activation.
Unpredictable steering can even result from failing to perform suspension repairs. With damage to tie rods and ball joints, the vehicle can pull to one side and cause delayed steering responses.
Increased Repair Costs and Faster Wear and Tear
You might think you’re saving money by not resolving your car alignment issues or other suspension woes, but quite the opposite can be true. You can end up spending more money. Misaligned wheels caused by suspension damage can accelerate tire wear, increasing the risk of blowouts and premature replacement.
Suspension damage can even have a domino effect. Just one faulty part makes other parts work harder, causing damage and wear to wheel bearings, springs, and the steering rack. Perhaps most damaging of all, unrepaired suspension can transfer impact forces to the frame, resulting in stress fractures and even permanent chassis deformation.
Performance and Reliability Woes
Something can feel not quite right after an accident, but you can’t put your finger on it. A collision can often cause performance issues and affect your vehicle’s reliability.
You might notice constant vibrations or strange sounds, as misaligned or damaged parts creak or clunk underneath your car. Because your engine has to work harder due to misalignment, you may also notice your car using more fuel.
The Benefits of Timely Car Suspension Repairs
As tempting as it can be to wait and see if your car’s issues resolve themselves, you can experience these benefits by prioritizing suspension repairs as soon as possible:
- Enhanced safety and control, with all four wheels maintaining consistent contact with the road
- Reduced braking distance for shorter, safer stops
- Tire cost savings, as you’re not experiencing uneven tire wear
- Protection of other components
- Improved fuel efficiency
- Better ride comfort
- Preserved resale value, as your car will feel solid and stable during test drives
Suspension Damage Repair Process + Timeline
When your car is your pride and joy, you want it to be in safe hands. That peace of mind comes from understanding what the experts will do to repair it, and how long it will take.
Step 1: Suspension Diagnostics
Using advanced diagnostic equipment, certified suspension repair technicians at trusted auto body businesses perform a quick and accurate evaluation of your suspension system. They examine your vehicle’s struts, shocks, springs, and alignment parts to determine the repairs required to get you back on the road safely.
Step 2: Suspension Repairs
Once the technicians understand the repairs your vehicle needs, they provide them! They use the most appropriate equipment and technologies based on the level of suspension damage and car alignment issues.
Most technicians are well-equipped with frame measurement systems, OEM-specific tools, alignment machines, and digital frame gauges. With these tools, they can identify even the slightest misalignment that could be affecting your vehicle’s performance, handling, and safety.
Step 3: Suspension Warranty
Many of the most highly regarded collision repair businesses are so confident in their ability to repair suspension on cars post-collision that they offer a written lifetime warranty. Feel confident knowing that they stand behind their workmanship.
Step 4: Post-Repair Support
Do you have questions about your suspension repairs? Most auto body shops ensure their team is available to answer questions and provide follow-up assistance.
Suspension Repair Timeline
How long suspension repairs take depends on the level of damage and the availability of parts. Many reputable businesses offer same-day repairs, for your convenience, but your local certified suspension repair technician will provide an accurate repair timeline when you visit.
Receive Professional Suspension Repairs from Mr. Car Shine Body Shop in Garland, TX
Are you experiencing car alignment issues or other unusual symptoms after a car accident? Contact Mr. Car Shine Body Shop in Garland, Texas, today. We are proud to be trusted collision repair specialists, diagnosing and repairing a range of suspension-related issues. Our goal is to get you back on the road quickly and safely!
