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Many years ago a man noticed that his car drove so smoothly and comfortably that the hardest part of driving was staying awake. Now it's smooth.
Maybe your car doesn't provide such a smooth experience. If you want to improve the smoothness, you first need to understand why it isn't that smooth in the first place.
If you have recently experienced a monsterperforated holeit's no surprise that an injury can lead to a rough ride. hit a curb? Parking block? The same problem.
But collision damage to your vehicle is just one condition that can prevent your car from driving smoothly. Your conditionband,wheel,steering and suspension,brakes, and more can hinder a smooth ride. This also applies to poor wheel alignment. In fact, your vehicle's design may allow for a harsher ride than you want.
So how do you know if your suspension is damaged? Or if your tires are bad? Or you're wondering how to tell if your car needs a service or why your car wobbles at high speed. Let's take a look at some common problems that can keep your car from running smoothly and provide some tipshow to make healthcare run more smoothly.
Tires and wheels
A less than smooth ride in your car is usually caused by your tires.Tires that are very wornIf your car is out of round, damaged or out of balance, it will wobble, shake or vibrate while driving. How and when the problem occurs depends on specific tire problems.
For example, vibration or vibration at high speed (50 miles per hour) may be related to a tire that is slightly crooked or out of balance with the wheel, while wobble at low speed (15 miles per hour) is more likely to be caused by a tire. separation (a potentially dangerous situation).
A broken radial belt, a dent in the tire, a part missing from the tire, and uneven wear all make for an unstable ride.
This also applies to a bent wheel or rim. Like a damaged tire, this is usually caused by street trauma; a hole or other impact.
A technician at a tire shop can thoroughly inspect and repair the tiresbalance your tiresto determine if they are the cause of your rough ride. Andbuy new tiresIf necessary.
Suspension and steering
Tires may be the most likely culprits to ruin the smoothness of your ride, but they're not the only ones. Loose, worn ordamaged suspension and steeringParts can also cause your car to wobble, bounce or float on the road.
The suspension system is designed to hold or "suspend" the vehicle body above the tires and wheels. The suspension also absorbs bumps in the road surface, so you don't have to. When you drive over bumps, the purpose of the suspension is to absorb the up and down movement of the tires and wheels while keeping the body relatively flat. It also serves to keep the bodywork level and the tires in contact with the ground when cornering
Some parts of the suspension system can cause a rough ride if they are damaged or worn. Loose, worn ball joints can cause vibrations. The same applies to the tie rod ends (part of the steering system). When the car moves, the wheels will vibrate due to the inclination of these worn parts.
If your car feels more like it's bouncing along the road than vibrating, or if it's "swimming" back and forth and floating like a boat instead of a car, the problem is probably the shock absorbers or struts. Some vehicles (usually large trucks and some luxury cars) have springs to suspend the body and shock absorbers to damp the up and down motion.
Most modern passenger cars and SUVs have struts instead. These units, commonly known as "MacPherson Struts", combine both a coil spring and a shock absorber in one unit. In either case, a worn set of springs and shocks or a worn set of struts will lead to a bouncy ride. More importantly, braking efficiency and oscillation will be significantly reduced.
Poor alignment
INwheel alignmentis an adjustment of the angles of the wheels and tires in relation to the rest of the vehicle and the road. If the wheels are not aligned at the correct angle, the vehicle's performance (handling and ride comfort) will be adversely affected.
To perform an alignment, a technician lifts a vehicle into the air on an alignment stand. Using a special set of cameras attached to the wheels, the technician will spin the wheels through a series of motions so a diagnostic computer can read the angles. If the vehicle is out of specification, the steering and suspension components can be adjusted to bring the vehicle back within tolerance. Otherwise, the mechanic may advise you to replace worn or damaged steering and/or suspension parts.
A vehicle that is not properly aligned will often pull to one side or the other. However, poor alignment can also lead to uneven tire wear and vibration when the vehicle is in motion.
Brakes
Bad brakescan also hinder your smooth driving.
In adisc brake system, a set of metal discs (calledthe rotor) are attached to (and rotate with) the rollers. When you press the brake pedal, hydraulic fluid applies pressure to a set of brake pads sandwiched around the rotors. Thatbrake padsgrab the rotors and make them brake and stop and thus brake and stop the car.
When a brake rotor warps for some reason, the result is usually a vibration in the brake pedal and a vibration on the road. Definitely not smooth. A warped rotor can be caused byaggressive braking(causing overheating of the rotor and other braking system components) or a poor quality replacement part. Uneven wear can also lead to a similar effect.
One is stuck or stuckcaliper(the hydraulic clamping mechanism that houses your brake pads) can grab the rotor even when you are not braking, causing vibration. And uneven or worn brake pads can cause vibration, although this usually happens during braking.
Other unequal issues
In addition to your tires, wheels, suspension, steering and brakes, a number of other problems can lead to a rough ride. For example, the drive shafts of many passenger cars (called Constant Velocity or CV axles) can wear out.CV axlesis designed to apply torque to your wheels to turn them while moving up and down and side to side. As their complex joints wear out, they become sloppy. And the axle vibrates when you drive, especially when cornering.
Cracked or broken engine or transmission mounts will also cause your car to shake. These mounts are made of a rubber-like substance designed to absorb vibration and torque from your motor and transmitter, preventing vibrations in the cabin. If one or more of them break, the large metal masses can move and cause a rattling sound and severe vibrations while driving.
By the way, if you brake very hard, especially on wet or slippery surfaces, you will probably notice a shaking sensation and hear a growling sound. This is normal. Your anti-lock braking systemBrake systemis designed to help you maintain control of your car when stopped on slippery roads and makes noise when turned on.
Design-related driving issues
Sometimes a vehicle just doesn't provide the kind of experience you want. Cars designed more for street performance than comfort will have suspension, wheels and tires that result in a stiffer ride than, say, a minivan.
The suspension, wheels and tires all strike a balance between performance/handling and comfort. If your car is in good condition, but you still want a smoother ride, there may be a few options to consider.
Large wheels and low profile tires (short sidewall tires) transmit more feedback from the road to the cabin, resulting in a smoother ride. Replacing them with smaller wheels and higher profile tires will give you a smoother ride as the larger tires can absorb more impact from the road.
Replacing your shocks and springs (or your struts) for aftermarket versions that provide a softer ride is an option on many cars. Some components are adjustable.
Either way, if you're deviating from OEM (factory) parts, be sure to consult a professional to ensure you're not compromising too much on performance – or safety.
Today's cars are made with a blend of performance and comfort. If your car isn't up to the task and you want your vehicle to run smoother, make an appointment with a trusted garage today for an inspection, tune-up or consultation.
This article is intended as a general guide only and reliance on the material is at your own risk. By using this General Guidance Document, you agree to defend, indemnify and hold harmless Hogan & Sons Tire and Auto and its affiliates from and against any and all claims, damages, costs and expenses, including attorneys' fees, arising out of or in connection with with your use of this guidance. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Hogan & Sons Tire and Auto makes no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, regarding the information, content or materials contained herein. This disclaimer of rights is intended to be only as broad and inclusive as permitted under the laws of your state of residence
