Car suspension: the multi-link front suspension on an Audi A6.
Generally speaking, most new car owners will have to replace their suspension or dampers after about five years.
But if you’ve been driving your car hard and caring little for it, you might be due for a damper and bushing change well before that.
Here are four tips that can help your car suspension last a bit longer.
1) GO EASY OVER SPEED BUMPS.
Yes, speed bumps are irritating. Especially the ones that come in pairs or threes just before a carpark gantry.
(Seriously, who are the “geniuses” who approve these?)
But instead of just driving right over them to “get it over with”, take a slower and gentler approach. It will help your car suspension last longer.
And your passengers will thank you for this. Especially if they just had a big meal.
2) DON’T OVERLOAD YOUR VEHICLE.
This sounds like a no-brainer but how many times have we seen drivers with overloaded cars?
Whether it’s too much luggage or too many passengers in the backseat (we’ve all seen saloons with six or seven in the rear), overloading your car overloads the dampers as well.
That won’t help your car suspension last longer.
It’s a huge safety risk, too. It’ll drastically increase your braking distance. And if you have more passengers than seatbelts, it could be fatal in the event of a mishap.
3) AVOID MOUNTING KERBS.
Hitting kerbs not only damages your wheels. It can also mess up your suspension.
Repeatedly mounting kerbs can throw off your wheel alignment and/or camber. Therefore, kerbs must be avoided at all costs if you want to help your car suspension last longer.
4) AVOID POTHOLES!
Apart from ruining your drive and ride, potholes will throw a lot of things out of whack if you keep driving through them.
However, spotting potholes isn’t always easy, especially at night. A good trick is to pay attention to the cars in front.
Are they suddenly trying to avoid something? Or have they driven through a pothole? That up-and-down movement is unmistakable.
That said, potholes are rare in Singapore. But you’ll probably encounter them if you enjoy B-road blasts across the border!
