Suspension is crucial for the comfort, safety, and efficiency of your truck on long hauls. What’s more, suspension must be in perfect working order so that the least amount of wear-and-tear comes to the rest of the truck. Suspension maintenance can really pay off, saving you a ton of headaches and costly repairs later on.
Luckily for you, this type of maintenance can be done quickly and easily. Get in touch with a heavy truck repair service if it’s been a few thousand miles since your last tire inflation.
Basic Suspension Maintenance
You’ll be doing your truck a great service if you keep up with your tire rotation and alignments. Take this opportunity to check the suspension system for signs of wear, too.
Here are some tips for suspension maintenance and a general schedule for doing them:
- Watch out for leaking hydraulic fluid from struts and shocks
- Every 1,000-3,000 miles, make sure your tire pressure and tread depth are adequate
- Check that the power steering fluid is still good to go, and replace it if it isn’t
- Rotate tires every 10,000 miles
- Align tires every 15,000 miles
- Examine the bushings and joints for potential issues
Some of these you can do yourself, but you’ll need the help of a professional for the rest.
Signs of Wear on a Truck’s Suspension
What’s a sign you should check for suspension problems immediately? When you notice any change in how the vehicle controls. This can include rocking, difficulty turning, truck bouncing in potholes, the front of the truck dipping when braking, and so on.
The suspension is the system that helps manage brake force and turning control throughout the vehicle. It’s crucial that this system is in good working order if you want to be safe on the job and deliver all your cargo.
You’ll also notice:
- Difficulty staying in one lane
- Vehicle that sags
- Inability to turn
- Truck leans as it turns
- Uncomfortable bouncing on uneven surfaces
- Truck rocks more than before
You shouldn’t wait for these signs to come up – the small bits of maintenance will pay off dearly, and you might never have to shell out for more expensive repairs.
Going in for Maintenance Will Help You Catch Problems Early
Problems with the suspension can be both cause or effect for a whole slew of other problems. Tires that haven’t been maintained will cause issues with the suspension system, and a poorly-maintained suspension can ruin your tires quicker.
When you take your vehicle in for routine maintenance, the mechanic will help prevent all of that. They’ll do things like torque the U-bolts as needed and replace bushings. The last thing you want is for the undercarriage to come apart under you! It all comes together with the suspension, one of the most important systems for vehicle control and safety.
You may not have realized it, but trailer suspension is just as crucial. While it doesn’t need to take rider comfort in mind as much, misaligned tires on a trailer can cause wear and tear to the truck. If the trailer is listing unevenly side to side, this will jerk the truck’s tires around. Don’t neglect the trailer; hire a trailer repair service in Las Vegas.
