Posted on 2/27/2026

Suspension wear usually creeps in slowly, so it can be hard to notice until the ride feels off all the time. A worn suspension can make the car bounce, wander, clunk over bumps, or chew through tires faster than it should. The good news is you can spot a lot of the clues without being a suspension expert. You just need to know what changes are meaningful and what to look at first. How Suspension Wear Builds Up Your suspension is a mix of parts that control movement and keep the tires planted. Shocks or struts manage bouncing, while joints and bushings keep everything tight and aligned. Over time, rubber dries out, fluid-filled mounts weaken, and metal joints develop play. Once that happens, one worn part can make other parts work harder and wear faster. A common pattern is this: the car still feels fine on smooth roads, but rough pavement exposes the problem. You start noticing extra movement, more noise, and less confidence in quick steering inputs. That is usuall ... read more