Maintaining Your Suspension System for the Winter

There’s little doubt that winter causes problems for roads! The constant freezing and thawing and water seeping into the pavement and expanding can cause cracks and potholes. There is nothing good about what winter does to roads, and this can cause a problem with the suspension system on your car, van, truck or SUV.

All of the added bumps and holes can cause your suspension to work overtime trying to smooth out your ride, and if it is not in great shape to begin with, it might not be up for the job. That is why you should make sure that you’re properly maintaining your suspension system as we embark on another cold winter this season.

What Needs to be Checked on Suspensions Before Winter Driving Hits?

There are many things on a car that need to be checked as the cold winter weather approaches including tire pressure, fluid levels, tire alignment and the need for anti-freeze in the radiator and better windshield washer fluid in the reservoir. Along with all of this, it is important to make sure that you check your vehicle suspension before you start to drive on the punishing roads that winter will no doubt create.

To start, it is best to park your car on a level surface and look from ground level at how your car is sitting; if it sits lower on one corner you may have leaf springs that have shifted or started to sag. You may not have noticed this on the more even roads of summer, but rough winter roads could cause a sagging spring to bottom out which can lead to breakage of the springs that can lead to a very rough ride indeed.

After this, it is best to remove the wheel and get a good look at the springs and U-bolts, removing any dirt with a wire brush to make the inspection easier. If you see any cracking or breaks look into replacing the leaf springs before they get worse. If the U-Bolts have become loose, see if you need to re-align the short leaves in the spring bundle as they can slip if the U-Bolt is loose. After re-aligning, make sure the U-Bolt is tightened to prevent further slipping.

Finally it is best to lubricate with a silicone lubricant to protect your springs against the slush and salt that winter will throw at them. Make sure everything is tight as you put the wheels back on and you will be ready to go!

Turn to General Spring for the Winter Season

Difficult questions require expert advice, and if you are not certain what needs to be done with your suspension system, it is the best to consult with someone who knows. The service team at General Spring have been experts in automotive suspension products for almost 50 years, and are here to bring you the knowledge you need to get the right suspension product for your car, truck, van or SUV.

If you are local to the New Century, KS area, we can be reached at 913-829-0619 and national customers can call us toll free at 1-888-829-0619 and we’d be more than happy to ship your order. For the product knowledge and expertise you need to get your suspension ready for the winter give our team a call today or contact us online now!