Why is suspension important to your vehicle’s safety?
Your car’s suspension system is responsible for providing you with a smooth and stable driving experience. Technically, the suspension system’s job is to maximise friction between your car’s tyres and the road. As well as reducing bumps and vibrations, this also improves handling so that you have more control over your vehicle.
A properly functioning suspension system is important to the safety of your vehicle. This is because it gives you more control, especially when going over bumps and around turns. For this reason, problems with your suspension may lead to a failed Warrant of Fitness.
Why has your suspension failed a Warrant of Fitness?
There are several different parts of your suspension system that need to be in working order for your car to pass its Warrant of Fitness:
Suspension joints – Ball joints are important suspension components found on all vehicles. Their job is to connect the control arm to the steering system while allowing for flexibility. Below are some of the most common causes for ball joints to fail a Warrant of Fitness:
- Insecure ball joint – If the ball joint is not secured in place, excess movement can occur. This can affect the safety of your vehicle.
- Worn ball joints – Ball joints are constantly subjected to high levels of stress. This can eventually lead to them wearing and needing replacement.
- Damage or corrosion – If rust, corrosion, cracks or any other form of deterioration is present, the joints may need to be replaced.
Suspension ball joint replacement in Hamilton
Shock absorbers – Shock absorbers help to reduce bumps and vibrations as you drive. This allows for smoother driving. Your shock absorbers may fail a Warrant of Fitness for the following reasons:
- Leaks – The oil must stay inside a shock absorber for it to work correctly. If a shock absorber develops a leak, it will need to be replaced for you to be able to pass your Warrant of Fitness.
- Insecure shock absorbers – If the shock absorbers are insecure in a way that your car’s safety is affected, they may need to be fixed in order to pass a Warrant of Fitness.
Mounting points – In order to pass a Warrant of Fitness, all steering and suspension mounting points must be secure. They must also be free of rust or corrosion that can affect their ability to hold your suspension in place.
Steering rack – The steering rack converts steering wheel inputs into rotational energy to control the wheels. Stiff or loose steering wheel operation are usually a reason for concern and can point to a problem in the steering rack. If any of the following problems are present, it may fail a Warrant of Fitness inspection:
- Excessive play – There are certain levels of movement that are normal for a steering rack. If too much movement is occurring, the steering rack will need to be repaired.
- Leaks – If fluid is leaking from the steering rack, the leak will need to be repaired.
- Corrosion or other damage – If the steering rack is corroded to a point where the operation is affected, it will need to be replaced.
View all steering and suspension WOF requirements in New Zealand
Steering and Suspension Repairs & WOF Work in Hamilton
Has your car failed its Warrant of Fitness due to a problem in its suspension system? If so, we can help you. At Grimmer Motors, our team of skilled mechanics can fix a variety of suspension-related issues. This will allow for smoother, safer driving as well as a pass on your Warrant of Fitness.
For suspension Warrant of Fitness repairs and services in Hamilton, contact Grimmer Motors today!