Signs of a Faulty Leaf Spring in Your Vehicle

What are the signs of a faulty leaf spring in your vehicle?

1. Difficulty steering
2. Squeaking sounds
3. Vehicle is not level
4. Increased sensitivity to bumps

Your car’s suspension system needs to be in complete working order for you to have a comfortable drive. If you’re not aware of how important the different components involved are, then you may run the risk of misdiagnosing problems in your vehicle. For example, not knowing the telltale signs of a faulty leaf spring can lead you to look into other aspects of your vehicle unrelated to the problem.

You may end up spending exorbitant amounts of money replacing your steering wheel system or even your tires. Fortunately, this guide aims to help you identify some common leaf spring issues you should definitely watch out for.

Difficulty Steering

You can easily identify damage in your vehicle’s leaf spring if you find one day that you’re having difficulty steering your vehicle. Turning left or right even at slow speeds may already seem like a difficult job for your vehicle. If you sense that your car is exerting more effort doing this simple task, then you may want to have your leaf springs inspected by a qualified automotive mechanic.

Leaf springs are designed to provide your vehicle with the utmost comfort when it comes to steering. Being unable to do this means this component of your car has probably been exposed to damage that has eventually worn its parts out. Have your car immediately serviced to avoid potential accidents caused by this problem.

Squeaking Sounds

As you drive your vehicle over small bumps and minor potholes, you may start hearing irritating squeaking sounds that don’t seem to go away. When you encounter this kind of problem, it’s always a good idea to have your leaf spring inspected. Especially if you’re not in the habit of maintaining the different parts of the car’s suspension.

Squeaking sounds are usually caused by debris or small rocks getting stuck between the leaves of the leaf spring. This could also mean that its spaces have been worn out, which increases the friction between the leaves.

If you don’t know how to clean your leaf spring, it’s always your best bet to take it to a servicing shop. They could easily remove the debris that had wedged themselves in between the leaves.

Vehicle Is Not Level

As mentioned before, your leaf spring is an essential factor in keeping the entire suspension mechanism of your vehicle in check. Without proper suspension, you may eventually begin to notice that your vehicle is not sitting levelly when it’s on a flat surface. Due to a broken leaf spring, one corner of the car may be lower than the other, making this exposed to other road hazards such as potholes and high-speed bumps.

The damaged leaf spring is no longer able to support the weight of the vehicle because of a fault in the car’s shock absorption capabilities.

Increased Sensitivity To Bumps

Provided you’re driving in smooth terrain, your vehicle should be able to reduce the effects of bumps which the wheels travel on. It’s abnormal for your car to suddenly become sensitive to even minor surface irregularities on the road.

In this case, your vehicle is bouncing more frequently than it should be. Once again, the leaves may have been damaged or may have cracks on them, preventing the vehicle from properly withstanding pressures alongside the shock system.

Don’t wait for the problem to worsen before having your car inspected by a professional. The best course of action is to identify the problem as early as possible to avoid further damage to your car.

Key Takeaway

It’s not always easy to identify the signs of a faulty leaf spring, especially if you don’t have a grasp of how your vehicle’s suspension system works to bring you a smooth drive. However, some of the most common leaf spring problems can easily be detected if you’re having trouble steering, if your vehicle is not level, and if it is not responding well to minor road hazards.

The best piece of advice is to always practice proper vehicle maintenance as a preventive measure. You should also make sure that you immediately bring your vehicle to an automotive shop so that any leaf spring problems you encounter can be resolved.