Why Are Your Vehicle’s Rear Springs Significant?

Your car is comprised of hundreds of little parts that all work together to make it function properly. Even the slightest bit of damage can throw your vehicle’s performance off completely. In fact, a simple oil leak can cause damages so severe, it causes the car to completely fail. While that’s an extreme illustration, it definitely shows the importance of every part of your car.

If you’ve been driving your car for an extended period of time, you may feel like you know everything there is to know about your vehicle. However, there’s an integral part that doesn’t get the attention it needs. That is your car’s rear springs.

Rear springs? Those words may seem extremely foreign, even to the most knowledgeable of car enthusiasts. Despite the lack of wide recognition, this piece plays a vital role in keeping your car on the road.

What Role Does Your Rear Springs Play?

The rear springs are part of your vehicle’s suspension system. This complex part of your car regulates how rough or smooth the drive is. When there’s a lot of friction between your car and the road, steering is compromised; thus, making driving uncomfortable. A damaged system may even be the reason why your passengers complain of an uncomfortable ride.

In order for your wheels and axel to communicate effectively with the road, the different springs have to be in good condition. There are two types of suspension springs that work to keep your ride comfortable. They are leaf springs and coil springs.

The leaf springs are located at the back of the vehicle and undergo a hefty amount of stress. Since they’re responsible for absorbing shock, they play a major role in keeping your drive smooth.

The History of the Leaf Spring

Believe it or not, before motorized vehicles were even invented, historical forms of transportation utilized some form of the leaf spring. Over time, this tiny tool evolved from assisting carriages in supporting large trucks.

Shaped like an arc and made from steel, this piece is connected to the rear axle. When you put something heavy in your backseat or trunk, this piece makes sure your car can handle that weight. Working as a guard for the axle, the leaf spring makes sure your axle doesn’t snap or buckle.

Signs of a Damaged Leaf Spring

Like all parts of the vehicle, the rear spring becomes damaged over time. Since this little piece supports so much weight, it’s important to keep it well-maintained to avoid suspension failure. Some of the most common signs that indicate a damaged leaf spring are excessive leaning or an uncomfortable ride. These symptoms are slight and gradually get worse over time. That’s why paying attention to how your car is driving is so vital.

While it’s not recommended to drive your car when experiencing any complications, there aren’t any immediate implications for driving with a broken rear spring. You may initially experience an uncomfortable ride or slight leaning. However, as time goes on, this problem could flourish into full-blown suspension failure if not tended to.

Neglecting to take care of your damaged rear spring leads to dire consequences. To begin, since your suspension system regulates how smooth your drive is, damage to this system could impact your steering abilities. You may experience difficulty steering or even an outright halt. This is extremely dangerous not only to you but to others on the road. That’s why it’s advised to take care of leaf spring issues as soon as they arise.

Another symptom to look out for is severe leaning to the side. If your car is leaning extremely far, it can impact your ability to stay in your lane and drive effectively. It’s also an eyesore; especially if you have a luxury vehicle.

How to Avoid Rear Spring Damage

While general wear and tear are common, there are things you can do to avoid rear spring failure. One of the primary ways to do so is to keep your car well-maintained. Routine services are vital to keeping up with the health of your car. Next, avoid carrying heavy loads when unnecessary. This keeps your suspension system fresh and doesn’t put additional weight on your springs.

If you’re looking for a reliable shop to bring your car to, look no further than Cerrone’s European. Serving the Redwood City, CA area, our shop is guaranteed to solve your mechanical issues, no matter how big or small.