As the snow melts and the roads clear, many drivers notice their vehicles just don’t feel the same. Winter potholes, frost heaves, and uneven surfaces can take a serious toll on your suspension and alignment. If your car pulls to one side, your steering feels loose, or you hear odd noises when driving, it’s time to consider a post-winter inspection. Proper suspension and alignment not only make your ride more comfortable—they’re essential for safety, tire life, and fuel efficiency.

Here’s why recovering from winter’s road damage should be a priority this spring.

The Impact of Winter Roads on Suspension Systems

Your suspension system absorbs shocks from road surfaces, maintaining contact between your tires and the pavement. Winter conditions, especially potholes, can cause significant wear or sudden damage to key components like:

• Struts and Shocks: These dampen the impact of bumps. When worn or damaged, they can cause excessive bounce, uneven tire wear, and poor handling.
• Control Arms and Bushings: Potholes can bend control arms or wear out bushings, leading to clunking noises and poor steering response.
• Ball Joints: Crucial for steering and suspension movement, damaged ball joints can create looseness in the front end and uneven tyre wear.
• Springs: Coil or leaf springs support vehicle weight. Cracks or breaks can lower ride height and reduce comfort and control.

Driving with compromised suspension increases stopping distances and reduces stability, especially during quick manoeuvres or on wet roads.

Signs You Need a Suspension Inspection

Some suspension damage is subtle, but there are warning signs you can’t ignore:

• Vehicle pulls to one side.
• Steering feels loose or wanders.
• Unusual noises when driving over bumps.
• Uneven or rapid tyre wear.
• A rough or bouncy ride.
• Visible leaking fluid from shocks or struts.

Addressing these issues early can prevent more costly repairs down the road.

Wheel Alignment: Why It Matters After Winter

Wheel alignment refers to how your wheels are angled relative to each other and the road. Potholes often knock these angles out of spec, affecting handling and tyre life.

• Camber: The tilt of the wheel inward or outward. Misaligned camber causes wear on one edge of the tyre.
• Toe: The direction your tyres point relative to each other. Incorrect toe can lead to feathered tyre wear and reduced straight-line stability.
• Caster: The angle of your steering axis, influencing steering feel and cornering. Incorrect caster can make steering feel heavy or unstable.

Even slight misalignments can cause tyres to wear out prematurely, costing you in both replacements and fuel efficiency due to increased rolling resistance.

Professional Inspection and Realignment

While some alignment symptoms are easy to spot, others require precision equipment to detect. A professional inspection will:

• Measure all alignment angles and compare them to factory specifications.
• Check for damaged suspension components contributing to misalignment.
• Adjust alignment settings for optimal performance and tyre longevity.

Most vehicles benefit from at least an annual alignment check, and spring is the ideal time after harsh winter conditions.

Don’t let winter’s rough roads compromise your safety or driving comfort. Click the button below to book a suspension and alignment service appointment. Our certified technicians will get your vehicle back in top shape—so you can enjoy a smooth, safe ride this season.