Today's ROCKFORD car care article focuses on your suspension. River Valley Auto customers need to know that in addition to just wearing out, suspension components can be damaged in an accident or by a hard impact – like a pothole, hitting a curb or a rock in the road.

Because the life span of shocks can vary so widely, your vehicle manufacturer and River Valley Auto recommend periodic inspections. During an inspection, your ROCKFORD service technician will check for worn, broken or missing parts.

Signs that shocks or struts are wearing out: The tires may have a cupped wear pattern. This is from the shocks bouncing unevenly as you drive around ROCKFORD. You may notice a floaty or drifting sensation when cornering. If the front of your vehicle dives excessively when stopping or rocks back and forth after you stopped, your shocks may be worn out. And if they are leaking fluid, it's definitely time to replace them.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, come into River Valley Auto for a suspension inspection. Same if you've been in an accident that involved one of your wheels. Worn or broken shocks can cause premature wear or failure on other vehicle suspension parts such as ball joints and other steering components as well. If your suspension actually fails, it could lead to a serious accident, so let us take care of your suspension components at River Valley Auto.

When you replace your shocks, it's usually a good idea to replace all four at the same time. That'll give you more even handling. Talk with your service advisor at River Valley Auto because you don't want a big difference between the performance of your shocks from wheel to wheel, and replacing all may be the safest bet.

River Valley Auto
300 Northland Dr NE
ROCKFORD, MI 49341
616.866.4578
www.rivervalleyauto.net

At River Valley Auto we install quality NAPA replacement parts.