Used Suspension & Steering Parts
Suspension and steering are what keep your car on the road and pointed where you want it. Springs and shock absorbers soak up bumps, arms and bushes hold the wheels in place, and the steering rack turns your input at the wheel into movement at the front wheels. This page explains what to check on used suspension and steering parts, and how to enquire.
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What suspension and steering parts do
Suspension connects the wheels to the body of the car. Springs carry the weight, shock absorbers dampen the bounce, and arms, bushes and ball joints hold everything in line while letting the wheels move up and down. When these parts wear, the car handles badly, tyres wear unevenly, and the ride turns harsh.
Steering turns the front wheels. Most modern cars use a rack and pinion: turning the wheel slides a toothed bar that pushes the wheels left or right, with power assistance from an electric motor or a hydraulic pump. A worn rack shows up as play in the wheel, a knock over bumps, or fluid leaking underneath.
Signs suspension or steering parts may need replacing
Worn suspension and steering parts announce themselves through noise, handling and tyre wear. The signs are worth acting on, because they affect how the car stops and steers.
- A knocking or clunking noise over bumps or when turning
- The car pulling to one side, or the steering wheel off-centre
- Uneven tyre wear, especially on the inside or outside edges
- The car bouncing more than once after a bump, or leaning in corners
- Play or looseness in the steering wheel
What to check before buying used suspension or steering parts
Suspension and steering parts are matched to the car and often to the side — left and right are not the same. Check the part number and the side before anything else, then look the part over.
- The part number matches, and left or right is correct
- Bushes and ball joints have no splits, play or perishing
- Shock absorbers are not leaking and extend smoothly
- Springs are not cracked, broken or sagging
- Steering racks have no heavy leak and no play in the inner joints
How to enquire about used suspension or steering parts
Give the registration, make, model and year of your car, and say which side the part is for — left or right — where it matters. Suspension and steering parts are often handed, and a part for the wrong side will not fit.
You can enquire through the form, or by calling 07961 404768. Describe the part as precisely as you can — a front shock absorber, a lower arm, a steering rack — and mention the symptoms too, so the right part can be checked first.
Suspension and steering in pictures
Tie rods and ball joints — photos show the type of part. Call 07961 404768 to check.
Frequently asked questions
What is a shock absorber?
A shock absorber dampens the bounce of the spring after a bump, so the wheel stays in contact with the road. Without it, the car would keep bouncing after every bump. A leaking shock absorber, or one that lets the car bounce more than once, is worn out and needs replacing.
Are left and right suspension parts the same?
Usually not. Arms, shock absorbers and many other suspension parts are handed, meaning the left and right versions are mirror images. Always say which side the part is for when you enquire, or the part may not fit. The side is part of the match, so it is worth naming it clearly in the enquiry.
What causes uneven tyre wear?
Worn suspension parts are a common cause: bushes, ball joints and shock absorbers that have play let the wheel sit at the wrong angle, and the tyre wears on one edge. Tracking that is out has the same effect. If tyres are wearing unevenly, the suspension is worth checking first.
What is a steering rack?
A steering rack is the toothed bar that turns the front wheels when you turn the steering wheel. Most modern cars use a rack and pinion with power assistance. A worn rack shows up as play in the wheel, a knock over bumps, or fluid leaking underneath the car.
What should I ask about used suspension parts?
Ask for the part number and whether it is left or right, whether bushes and joints have any play, whether shock absorbers leak, and whether springs are cracked. Give your car's registration and the side first, so the right part can be checked.
Related pages
Looking for used suspension or steering parts?
Call 07961 404768WhatsApp 07961 404768Autos Craft Ltd · 295 Cherrywood Rd, Birmingham B9 4UU, United Kingdom · Open 24 hours