Look at it parked before you drive it
Most suspension problems are noticed while driving: a clunk, a wander, a bouncy ride. One of the more revealing checks needs no driving at all, and anyone can do it in a minute on level ground.
Park on a flat surface, step back about twenty feet, and look at the vehicle from the front, the back and each side.
Does one corner sit lower than the others? A vehicle should sit level side to side. A corner that is noticeably lower can mean a broken coil spring, a cracked leaf, a failed air spring on vehicles that have them, or a worn mount. Broken springs are more common than people expect, and the break is often hidden inside the coil.
Does the rear sit much lower than it used to, empty? Leaf springs on a pickup that has hauled heavy loads for years can lose their arch. The truck sags even when the bed is empty, and bottoms out sooner under load.
Is the gap above each tire roughly even? Measure from the center of each wheel to the edge of the fender above it. Matching sides should be close. A difference of more than a small amount is worth having checked.
Are the tires leaning the same way? A wheel that tips in or out more than its partner on the other side points to a worn or bent part.
Why it matters
A vehicle that sits unevenly carries its weight unevenly. One tire works harder than the others, braking pulls toward one side, and the alignment cannot be set correctly until the ride height is right again.
What to mention when you book
What you saw, which corner, and whether it happened suddenly or gradually. A sudden drop often means something has broken. A slow sag usually means wear.
Once the suspension is sorted, car and light truck alignment puts the wheels back where they belong, and uneven tire wear can be checked under tire and wheel balancing, both here. The national suspension repair page covers the noises and handling changes that point to worn parts.
About this store
The Henderson store runs sixteen services and is managed by Derrick Madewell.
See the national suspension repair page for all 34 locations.