The suspension and steering components need to be checked from time to time. Abnormal tire wear or excess worn suspension and steering linkage components generally lead to poor ride quality, excessive and abnormal tire wear, reduced fuel economy and poor vehicle handling. Check the shock absorbers by parking the car on a flat surface, turning off the engine, putting on the brake. Push it down at one corner of the vehicle then release, noting how far it bounces up and down. It should stop moving after one or two bounces and come to rest levelly in a flat position. If it continues movements up-and-down or fails to return to its resting position, then a worn out or weak shock absorber may be involved. Repeat this test on all the remaining three corners of the vehicle. Raise and hold the car with jack stands for evidence of leakage from the shock absorbers. Also check that they are well fixed plus in good condition. It is also important that you visually inspect all your steering and suspension parts for any damage such as leaks, distortion seals boots and bushings. Examine control arm bushings where they attach to chassis, look over tie rod ends and ball joints, inspect steering gear boots for cracks or fluid leakage. Clean the bottom part of the knuckle joint while an assistant turns the wheel inwards against it; this is done as a test for movement at this joint which is between these two suspensions parts if any movement is detected as such then either one will have failed hence must be replaced. Hold each front wheel at both front edges like gripping a steering wheel, and push in front and pull backwards, then feel any looseness in steering system parts. In case play occurs in those linkages, the idler arm and outer tie rod ends should be inspected before examining anything else concerning them. Check CV boots for tears, cuts, loose clamps since they prevent dirt, water, and foreign materials from destroying constant velocity (CV) joints. If lubricating oil is leaking or broken, replace boots.
