Top 4 Reasons Why Your Vehicle Isn't Riding Smooth
Everyone enjoys a smooth ride on the highway. And you always notice when your vehicle isn’t driving as well as it should. There are plenty of reasons why your vehicle's ride could be rough or bumpy. Diagnosing why you’re having a rough ride can be difficult. We put together this list of helpful tips to set you on your way to getting the smooth ride you deserve.
1. Tires
A vehicle’s tires are one of its most important parts. It's the only part that comes in contact with the road. And tires impact more than just your ride quality, they also affect your gas mileage. Always make sure your tires are properly inflated. Keep a pressure gauge in your glovebox and regularly check the pressure. If it’s too high, let some air out, if too low, fill it up.
Most vehicles have the tire pressure on one of the front door panels and in the vehicle's owner’s manual. Regardless of the tire pressure from the vehicle manufacturer, do not exceed the pressure limits written on the sidewall of the tire.
If a tire is getting low on tread, it may be time to replace the tires. To check a tire's tread, insert a penny into the groove with Lincoln's head facing you and upside down. If you can see all of Abe's head, then you need new tires. Taking good care of your tires can save you a lot of time and money. Find out more about the selection of tires at Mavis Tires and Brakes and how their auto experts can help you.
2. Suspension
Your vehicle’s bumpy ride could also be caused by your suspension. If your suspension is bad, it’s almost sure to affect the overall quality of your ride. Signs of bad suspension components include:
Tire shake or wheel shimmy
Body sway or rocking while cornering or in the wind
Bouncy in general
The vehicle's nose dives while braking
If you answered “yes” to any of these items, you might need to replace some of your suspension components. Check out the inventory of shocks and struts and other auto repair services available at Mavis Tires and Brakes to get yours fixed today.
3. Brakes
Brakes can be a major reason for a bumpy ride. Unsurprisingly, this is often most noticeable while braking, especially at high speeds. If your vehicle shudders while braking you may have a warped rotor or damaged discs. Since these components are critical to stopping, it's advised to perform much-needed brake repair at your local Mavis Tires and Brakes.
4. Transmission
To see if a vehicle's transmission is the source of the bumpy ride, pay close attention to how your vehicle feels while the transmission is shifting gears. If you feel the vehicle lurching or shaking while the vehicle is shifting, you may have a faulty transmission. This is a problem that could quickly become an expensive headache if you don’t deal with it promptly. That’s why it’s important to have it checked out the moment you notice a potential problem.