Handling problems can make a car extremely hard to drive and can make the car unsafe to drive on the road. Anytime you notice a problem with the way your car is handling, your first course of action should be a full inspection at your local auto repair shop.
Suspension Problems
The suspension in your car is responsible for most of the handling and steering in the car. While some of the problems that can occur are harder to diagnose than others, here are some common ones to watch for.
Steering Component Problems
This is probably the most common reason the car starts to drive poorly. If the ball joints, the tie rods, or the steering box are heavily worn, the car may wander when you drive because of play in the steering. Often, the steering parts are easy to replace, but a front-end alignment is important after the new parts are on the car.
Shock Absorber Problems
The shock absorbers on your car slow the bounce in the suspension system when you drive over a bump on the road. Without the shocks, the car's suspension would bounce heavily and make the car uncontrollable.
As the shocks begin to wear out, you may notice that the car feels a little more bouncy or spongy, but the shocks are a simple fix and new shocks are not expensive unless you have a heavy-duty truck with heavy-duty shocks.
Alignment Problems
The alignment of your car is critical to the handle, and sometimes the alignment can change if you hit debris in the road or hit a deep pothole unexpectedly. The suspension system or components may not have any damage, but if the adjustment of the parts is off, this can throw the alignment out and create a situation where the car just does not drive properly.
A technician at the repair shop can check the alignment using the alignment rack, and, if it is off, they will check for any damage to the suspension parts. If they find no damage, the tech can reset the alignment and restore the proper handling to the car.
Wheel and Tire Problems
Another common area of the car that can affect handling and is often overlooked is the tires and wheels on the vehicle. Sometimes a problem with a tire or wheel can translate through the suspension and make the car handle terribly.
Tire Problems
Tires have steel belts or bands inside them that help provide stability to the tread and sidewall when the tire is under load. Older-style tires used polyester cords, but new cars put a lot more demand on the tires, so bias-ply tires (tires with the cords in them) are very uncommon now.
Even though the steel belts are stronger, the belt can break and separate inside the tire and cause the tire to shake. When this happens, the tread may shift to one side or the other or the sidewall may bulge out on the tire. If you see either of these conditions, take the car to the shop and have them check the tires immediately.
Wheel Problems
The most common problems with wheels are bent wheels. Often a wheel bends on a car when hitting a pothole or a curb with the wheel. The wheel will vibrate if it is bent, and you will most likely feel it in the steering. Wheels of aluminum or other soft metals are more likely to bend, but any wheel that suffers an impact can bend or crack.
No matter what the handle problem is, Euroclassics, LTD., can help diagnose and fix your car and get you back on the road. Give us a call or come by the shop today so we can discuss the concerns you have with your vehicle.
