If you’ve been bouncing around on Lincoln Street or hitting the potholes over by Dinsdale, chances are you’ve felt just how important your car’s suspension setup is — especially when you’re coming in for that all-important WOF in Hamilton. Suspension links might not be the first thing you think of, but trust me, they’re one of those sneaky things that can make or break your chances of getting that fresh WOF sticker.

1. Give the Suspension a Quick Look Every Now and Then

Honestly, it’s worth popping your head under the car every so often, especially if you’re driving a lot around town, on places like Te Rapa Straight or the backroads to Morrinsville. Look for cracks, dodgy bushings, or rust around the link arms, sway bars, and ball joints. If you’re hearing odd knocks, squeaks, or just feeling like your Mazda Atenza or Honda Fit is handling funny, that’s your car trying to tell you something. Don’t wait until the WOF inspection shows you up — sort it fast and you’ll save dollars (and stress) in the long run. Check out more safety check tips here.

2. Don’t Ignore Worn-Out Bushings

We see this heaps, especially on Euro cars like Peugeots and Skodas, and older Nissans too. The bushings are these little rubber bits that keep all your suspension links working together nicely. If they go hard, crack, or basically start falling out, you’ll notice clunky handling — especially with all the stop-start at the Peachgrove and Grey Street lights. Replace them before they totally go, and you’ll keep your tyres straight, the steering feeling tight, and ride comfort decent. Bushings actually help keep everything in line, so don’t skimp on them. Here’s how we handle bushing replacements.

3. Rust is the Enemy, Especially After a Hamilton Winter

If you’ve parked up outside a mate’s in Cambridge through that wet, foggy stretch last winter, you know how quick rust can sneak onto your suspension links. Get under your Hyundai i30 or Toyota Corolla with a torch and have a squiz. A bit of surface rust? You might be alright with some rust converter — but if you spot deep pitting or flaking, it’s usually time for new parts before your next WOF. Get all the info on rust repairs here.

4. Keep the Moving Bits Greased

This gets overlooked more than you think. Stuff like ball joints and tie rods (especially in older Subarus and hybrid Prius cars) love a bit of fresh grease to keep things smooth. Dry joints can start clicking, wearing faster, and get a big “X” during the WOF. We’ve sorted plenty of cars from Tamahere to Ngaruawahia that flunked their check just because of this. Chuck some lube on those parts and you’ll get a quieter, comfier ride — and a much easier WOF check! Here’s more about sorting suspension troubles.

5. Never Skip a Wheel Alignment After Fixing Suspension

Whether you’ve just swapped a busted control arm or sorted your bushings, always get an alignment — especially with all the roundabouts near Rototuna or after a hard hit on a speed bump outside The Base. Misaligned wheels mean uneven tyres, sketchy handling, or the car trying to dart off to Huntly on its own. Balance those wheels too for a smooth cruise. These are deal-breakers for your WOF and just make daily driving a lot less of a hassle. Book in your wheel alignment & balancing here.

Here’s why a lot of locals trust Grimmer Motors:

  • We’ve been around ages and know Hamilton cars inside out (check our workshop’s history).

  • Our techs see everything from Suzuki Swifts to VW Passats (and plenty of hybrids).

  • Proper gear for checking tricky faults, not just guessing (our diagnostic kit).

  • Easy to get to, with courtesy cars if you need to get to work, Uni, or school run.

  • We look after the planet and we actually listen to our customers.

So if you want to breeze through your next WOF in Hamilton, sort out car service or suspension repairs, and keep your ride happy, just pop in for a yarn or Book Now