Vehicle Steering & Suspension Service

For proper vehicle stability, power, and safe handling, power steering and suspension system repair is required. Steering and suspension components are continuously exposed to continual stress caused by Chicago, IL harsh road conditions, such as ball joints, tie rod ends, control arm bushings, struts, and stabilizer connections, to name a few. Your vehicle will continue to run safely and efficiently by having these components periodically inspected and serviced as required.

What Does The Supsenison Do?

A vehicle suspension system is designed to maximize the contact between the tires and the ground surface, provide steering stability and good handling, support the vehicle’s weight equally (including the chassis, engine, and body), and maintain passenger comfort by absorbing and dampening shocks.

Compared to other large vehicle systems, your vehicle’s suspension system works hard to resist a significant amount of stress. Without the suspension, a car would be difficult to maneuver and be susceptible to damage caused by the smallest hazards on Chicago roadways.

What Is The Cost Of Replacing A Car’s Suspension?

Due to many variables affecting the number, it is impossible to place an exact figure on suspension repair cost without an inspection.

Your vehicle’s make and model can play a significant role in how much you pay for a suspension repair. Luxury cars appear to cost twice as much, so fixing a BMW or Jaguar will be considerably more costly than repairing a Honda or Toyota.

Car suspension costs are often influenced by the cost of labor, the required components, and the degree of damage. The final cost of service will be influenced by the brand of parts the mechanic buys and the garage prices.

Your insurance can play a significant role in your repairs as well. Standard auto insurance doesn’t cover daily wear-and-tear repairs but check in with your insurance provider before paying for repairs.

Your insurance provider may cover the suspension repair costs if it occurs during an accident. The driver might have to pay out of pocket if the damage was caused by daily wear, such as hitting Chicago potholes.

How To Detect Damage To A Vehicle’s Suspension?

Spotting auto suspension damage is easy to detect but is challenging to diagnose without a mechanic’s trained eye. Since the suspension affects so many other systems that affect the control you have over your car, it’s essential to act fast when you suspect the suspension is having problems.

Difficulty controlling turns, bouncing hard over bumps in the road, and just difficulty controlling the vehicle are common signs of a bad suspension. Educating yourself could prevent further damages and costly repairs.

5 Signs Of A Broken Car Suspension

• Uneven TIre Wear– An unbalanced suspension will exert more force on one side of the vehicle
• Bumby Rides– Shocks are designed to absorb bumps (lightly) on the road but an uneven suspension will bounce harder off bumps
• Body Movement– The body of the vehicle shouldn’t rock when making turns
• Steering Wheel Stiffness– It shouldn’t take much effort to turn the vehicle at any speed
• Sinking Frame– If you can viable see the body of the car sitting lower, its time for a suspension inspection

Is It Safe To Drive With A Damaged Suspension?

No, it is dangerous for the driver and other people on the road for someone to drive with a broken suspension. A suspension spring that has been damaged or collapsed can cause sagging, noise, and affect angles of alignment. Although you can still drive, the ride will be rough in an emergency, and the vehicle will be hard to steer.

Bumps could damage other parts of the car. If the springs have weakened so far that your car’s body rests on one or more tires, moving your vehicle any further is dangerous as your tire could fall apart at any time due to contact.

How Is A Suspension Repaired?

Suspension repair can be anything from replacing a few smaller parts to having to replace the entire suspension system. It’s impossible to know what exactly needs to be repaired without having an inspection completed.

Repairs begin with a full inspection that tests the entire suspension system. The inspection will diagnose what parts are failing and can determine if those parts can be changed out. If the damage is left unrepaired for too long, the damage will spread and may not allow for the current suspension to be salvageable. A mechanic will be able to inform the vehicle owner what is damaged and how it can be repaired.

Common Suspension Repair Services

• Hub Bearing Replacement
• Suspension Spring Replacement
• Shocks And Struts Replacement
• Shock Absorber Replacement/Repair
• Caliper Replacement/Repair

How Much Does It Cost To Fix Power Steering?

The cost of repairing the power steering system can vary depending on the vehicle make and what parts need to be fixed. If the power steering pump needs to be replaced, prices range from 150-$850 (not including labor). In some cases, only the hoses need to be replaced costing around 60-$250 (not including labor).

Labor costs to perform the repair will vary depending on the auto shop and the make of the car. Labor costs range from 100-$150 for domestic vehicles and 200-$300 for foreign luxury cars. Foreign vehicle labor tends to more expensive because the parts are expensive and repairs require training specific to those vehicles.

How Do I Know If My Power Steering Is Going Out?

A power steering pump that is failing will make it harder to drive your car. Turning will require greater force and will make it dangerous to drive the vehicle. This will put both the vehicle driver and other drivers at risk because the vehicle will not as respond to driver input.

3 Things That Point To Failure In The Power Steering System

1. Fluid Leaks– Power steering fluid lubricates the system and a loss of fluid will result in difficult turning
2. Manual Steering– Loss of steering assist is easily detected because it requires more force to maneuver the car
3. Noises While Vehicle Is Running– Caused by low fluid level resulting in the power steering pump wearing out

What Causes Power Steering Failure?

Often times this system fails due to reasons outside of the driver’s control. As vehicles age, so do the parts that keep them running. When usage increases, so do the odds of a belt snapping or the power steering pump burning out. Belts snap due to a loss of lubrication (fluids) and produce friction that wears the belt out quicker. Pumps wear out for similar reasons including a loss of fluid pressure that forces the pump to work harder.

Chicago weather can also be blamed for the loss of power steering. Weather conditions can contaminate the steering system by creating moisture that clogs up pumps and hoses.

How To Get Steering And Suspension Systems Repaired?

The first step to repairing these systems is to get a Chicago mechanic to inspect the vehicle. The inspection will diagnose what is affecting the vehicle and reveal what needs to be fixed to get the vehicle back to driving condition.

The next step is to decide if it would be best to repair the current systems or completely replace them. Often times repair costs are close to replacement costs and it may be better to have brand new parts installed.

Take your vehicle to a repair shop that is trusted and has plenty of reputable reviews. Repairing the power steering or suspension can be costly so take your car to a shop that can properly perform the service.