A truck suspension system is essential to boost performance, make your ride smoother and keep you balanced around corners or sharp turns. Whether you drive a truck for work or leisure, keeping yourself and your passengers safe starts with maintaining your suspension. 

The more you know about your suspension system, the easier it is to pick up minor inconsistencies before they lead to significant problems. When you know about all the suspension system parts, you understand how they fit together, giving you valuable information on managing wear or damage. 

Types of Truck Suspension

The first step to keeping your ride smooth is knowing which suspension system is in your truck. There are several types of truck suspension systems, including:

• Leaf spring suspension: A leaf spring system consists of arched pieces of steel that flex when necessary. It's attached to the frame and a moving shackle, allowing various spring lengths. You can add more leaf springs to support more weight. Heavy-duty trucks often have multiple leaf spring layers, and well-maintained leaf springs can last up to 200,000 miles. 
• Coil spring suspension: Coil spring systems are standard in many vehicles. These flexible, strong coils store and release energy your truck generates through movement. They allow excellent movement in the suspension system, making them a popular choice for high-performance trucks. 
• Torsion bar suspension: A torsion bar consists of a narrow steel tube that attaches to the truck's wishbone and twists around its axis. It's also connected to the chassis on one end. When your vehicle goes over uneven ground, it creates tension, which twists the tube. The steel unwinds and pushes the wheel back down when the ground levels. 

What Parts Make up the Suspension System?

Your suspension system's primary function is to absorb vibrations from the road surface, improving the ride and passenger comfort. It can also support the truck body on the axle, helping maintain balance with your truck's wheels. While minor differences exist depending on the truck's make and model, common suspension system parts include: 

• Frame: The frame holds your entire suspension system, keeping all the other parts connected and in place. 
• Tires: Your tires are the only part of the truck's suspension system that touches the ground. While moving your vehicle forward, they work with the rest of the suspension system to achieve the smoothest possible ride. 
• Springs: The springs absorb most of the impact when your truck hits uneven ground or bumps in the road. Depending on your truck's make and model, your suspension system could have coil or leaf springs. 
• Shock absorbers: Also known as dampers or shocks, these parts support the springs to reduce impact further. 
• Struts: Your struts support the suspension system's structure. They hold the truck's weight, house the springs and shock absorbers and maintain wheel alignment. 
• Rods: Your rods connect different elements of your suspension system, creating an effective working unit. Lateral control rods hold the axle when a load comes from the side. 
• Sway bars: These stabilizer bars reduce body roll when your truck takes corners. They connect the suspension components on either side of the vehicle to distribute force and improve stability. 
• Bushings: These small yet vital components dampen vibrations and reduce noise within the suspension system. 
• Tie rods: The tie rods connect the steering system to the wheels, maintaining wheel alignment and steering responsiveness. 
• Ball joints: Your ball joints manage vertical and horizontal loads on your truck. They also allow parts to move and pivot, lubricating them so they can move against each other. 
• Knuckle arms: These components are positioned at the front of your truck's wheels. The wheels rotate constantly on the spindle shaft from the knuckle arm. 

Signs of Suspension Wear and Tear

Your suspension system can only work correctly when all components function as they should. Over time, the elements will show signs of wear and tear. Start looking out for these inconsistencies after about 50,000 miles. The sooner you can identify them, the quicker you can repair or replace components, keeping your truck safe and improving its performance. 

Some common signs of suspension system wear and tear include:

1. Rougher Ride

Your truck's suspension system should absorb bumps and vibrations from the road, limiting the impact that reaches you as you drive. If you notice your truck's ride is changing and you can feel everything underneath you, you may need a suspension repair. You might also see the body of your truck bounce when driving over uneven terrain. 

2. Steering Trouble

The suspension system's job is to keep your truck stable while moving. Steering difficulties could indicate suspension system wear and tear. Other signs to watch out for include:

• Pulling or drifting around a sharp turn.
• Swaying around corners or when driving through crosswinds.

A worn suspension system can't keep your truck balanced and stable during turns, which increases the risk of rolling. If you experience swaying or a general unbalanced sensation, drive cautiously and complete repairs as soon as possible. 

3. Leaking Fluids

Examine your shocks and struts for oil or fluid leakage. These components only leak when there's a cracked seal, so they need immediate replacement. 

4. Uncomfortable Braking

Look out for sudden dipping or nosediving when you engage your truck's brakes. Your vehicle might also "squat" behind when you accelerate, lifting the front end. When left unattended, these suspension issues can impact your ability to stop quickly, becoming a road hazard. 

5. Uneven Tires

Tire wear and tear is part of truck ownership, but the wear on your tires can speak volumes about your suspension if you know where to look. Because your wheels are part of your suspension system, they become misaligned when your suspension needs maintenance. 

Keep an eye out for bald patches or wavy wear patterns. These are signs of imbalance and can indicate your suspension no longer holds your tires firm against the road. 

6. Unbalanced Corner

Park your truck on a flat surface. Ensure all the tires are correctly inflated, and look for one corner that sits lower than the others. If there is a visible difference, one of your springs could be damaged. You may also hear clunking noises when driving over a bump or uneven terrain.

Boost Your Suspension System Performance With General Spring KC

Over time, wear and tear in your suspension system can erode your truck's performance and even put you at risk. Sometimes, the changes are minor, but once you replace the worn part, you remember how fantastic your truck can be. 

General Spring KC has been an authority in suspension since 1965. We specialize in leaf springs, coil springs, shocks, struts and many other suspension components. Even if you have an older vehicle, we can customize leaf springs to make them feel new.

If you're searching for high-quality components, fast shipping and good pricing, look no further than General Spring KC. Contact us for your truck suspension components today!