The suspension is a vital vehicle system. It smooths out your drive so that you don’t feel all the bumps on the road. It does so by keeping your car balanced, aligned, and steady.
Given the role that it places in driving, damage to this system needs to be addressed right away.
Does Suspension Damage Total A Car?
Damage to a suspension system can total your car.
That’s because it can be costly to repair. Many components of the suspension work together and thus, need to be replaced together which push your repair bill higher and higher.
The suspension absorbs the impact of the road and maintains proper tire traction, allowing you to maneuver your car with ease. If this system goes awry, you will have trouble controlling your vehicle and will not feel as comfortable making turns or driving on different terrain.
What Causes Suspension Damage?
There are a number scenarios and objects on the road that can cause suspension damage including:
- Potholes: Hitting potholes can affect your alignment and suspension. After hitting many bumps, a large enough pothole can cause you to bottom out, or hit the road with the bottom of your car.
- Curbs: Hitting curbs, especially if your car is not equipped to handle uneven ground, can cause your suspension to move in a way that it is not meant to, thus causing damage.
- Accidents: Driving off the road, getting hit on your front wheels, or colliding head-on with a vehicle or object can cause direct and indirect damage to the suspension.
- Debris: Objects on the road can collide with your suspension system and cause immediate damage.
- Exceeding Your Car’s Weight Limit: Overloading your vehicle past its limit can put stress on the suspension system.
- Driving Off-Road: There are many cars that are equipped to handle off-road terrains. If your vehicle is not built with a suspension that can handle the bumpiness of unpaved roads, you can damage your suspension.
Signs Your Suspension Is Damaged
If your suspension is damaged, you will likely be able to tell as this system works to enhance your ride comfort. When it’s not functioning properly, you’ll notice all the bumps on the road and so will your passengers.
Here are the other signs you should look out for if you suspect that your suspension is damaged:
- Car pulling to one side while driving: This sign indicates that your suspension is uneven and the weight of your car is not properly dispersed. This impacts your wheel alignment and causes the car to pull to one side.
- Difficulty steering: Damaged shocks, struts, or control arms can make steering harder and more unpredictable. You’ll feel unsteady rounding corners and making sharp turns.
- Nose diving forward while braking: This sign indicates that the front shocks or struts are damaged or worn out.
- Your vehicle is sitting lower on one side: This can indicate that a spring is damaged and can no longer support the weight of the car on that side. This can also affect the shock absorber.
- Uneven tire wear: This can result from damaged struts or shocks not being about to support the weight of your car, causing uneven stress on certain tires.
Any of these signs is a cause for concern, and an indicator that you may have suspension damage. Now, can suspension damage be fixed? Yes — but it’ll be costly.
How Much Does Suspension Damage Cost To Repair?
Suspension damage can cost between $1,000 to $5,000 to repair.
The repair cost varies based on:
- The year, make, and model of your car
- Vehicle type
- Severity of damage
- How long it will take to repair
- The number of parts you need
- Whether you buy genuine or aftermarket parts
Plus, some parts cost more than others. Here’s a breakdown of the estimated prices of various suspension components:
- Set of four shock absorbers: $1,400
- One ball joint: $200
- One spring: $390
- One coil: $400
- Pair of struts: $750
How To Sell A Car With Suspension Damage
Once you see the estimate for your suspension damage, you might start thinking that it’s better to just get a new car.
But first, you’ll need to get rid of your damaged one — that’s where DamagedCars comes in.
We buy cars of all makes and models that have issues or are totaled. Here’s our simple process:
- Click “Get My Offer” on our website.
- Input your vehicle details.
- Accept our offer.
- Get your vehicle picked up in 24-48 hours and get paid!
This process is completely free and your offer is generated in less than two minutes. By selling to us, you’ll get rid of your damaged car and get paid a fair market price for it!