Sometimes, VW suspension problems can feel subtle. You’ve got no warning lights or error messages, but something feels off. Somehow.
Perhaps your commute through Derby feels a little bouncier or rougher than usual. Maybe the steering seems a little imprecise. The tarmac sounds louder.
Suspension problems tend to appear like this. The suspension system in your car keeps your tyres in contact with the road, so when it begins to fail, you need to get it looked at as soon as possible.
On this page, our team has put together a few of the most common suspension issues VW drivers in Derby can expect, and why to watch out for them.
Why does my VW bounce over bumps?
You might notice a bouncing-type feeling in your suspension, especially over rough roads or speed bumps. Your car rises, drops, then keeps bouncing up and down for longer than you remember.
This is typical behaviour for worn shock absorbers (technically known as dampers). Shock absorbers return the springs to a standard position after compression or release (when a wheel goes up or down).
When your shock absorbers don’t work, there’s very little to stop the spring bouncing up and down in its place. That creates that bouncing feeling when you go over bumps.
This is a very real safety problem. When the car’s bouncing upwards, the tyre has very little force pushing it down onto the road, and that translates into very poor grip. That means you’re much less likely to be able to slow down or steer quickly. If this happens, get in touch with us here at Sunset and book your VW in for repair work as soon as possible.
Why does my VW lean when I drive around corners?
What if you’re noticing a leaning feeling around corners? Some describe this as a feeling of the car throwing itself towards the outside of the bend. Your VW, in general, might feel less planted, and you need to make a few cautious steering adjustments.
Excess body roll is often thanks to worn anti-roll bar links or bushes. These parts control how the car stays level during cornering, so if they wear down, your VW leans more.
If you also notice a knocking sound over rough surfaces, that’s another sign of worn bushes or ball joints. These parts hold the suspension arms in place and keep the wheels aligned. Once there’s any play (movement), the wheel can basically move when it shouldn’t.
All cars lean to some extent. However, excess body roll, beyond what Volkswagen designed your car to do, is dangerous. The greater the lean, the worse the strain on the tyres on the outside of the corner.
You may reach a point where the grip fails. It’s most dangerous anywhere with fast corners, like country roads, motorways or even an overenthusiastic approach to a roundabout.
If you’re ever at all unsure, call us to book your car in for a quick check-up with a trusted technician in Derby.
Why does my VW pull to one side when I’m driving straight?
You can hold your steering wheel perfectly straight on a smooth, straight road. And yet, your VW seems to pull to the right or the left, so you have to correct it.
Does this sound familiar? It’s the classic symptom of an alignment (tracking) issue, usually tied to the ‘toe’ angle. A good way to visualise ‘toe’ is to look down at your feet. If you twist your feet out to the side, that’s called ‘toe out’. Twisting them towards each other is called ‘toe in’.
Over time, the toe angles of your front wheels naturally shift thanks to bumps in the road and ordinary driving. It needs to be checked on a reasonably regular basis, at least once per year, and every time you get new tyres.
Toe angles are set and adjusted by track rods and track rod ends. These are connected bars under your car that a technician twists to restore the angle to the manufacturer’s tolerances, usually within 0.1°.
Another tell-tale sign of a toe problem is a strange wear pattern down one edge of your tyre, from where the car’s weight is stretching that side as you drive.
The best way to check for tracking problems with your VW? Bring your car to us here at Sunset VW. We’ll measure the toe angles for you with extremely precise equipment and advise changes only if the angles are out.
Fix your VW’s suspension with Sunset VW in Derby
Your VW is an intricate mix of very important parts, and the suspension is often overlooked. But without good suspension, you could find yourself in some very dangerous situations.
Here at Sunset VW, we work with VWs, Audis, Seats, and Skodas every single day. The team here knows suspension, and how to fix it, inside out. From broken springs to leaking dampers or play in ball joints and bearings, we’ll get your car fixed properly and at a competitive rate.
Call us to book an appointment and drive your VW to our shop here in Derby for a suspension check or a regular service. Let’s get you back on the road and driving away with confidence.