How Much Does Car Suspension Repair Cost?

The average cost to repair car suspensions will play a role in maintaining your vehicle. Shocks are vital in your vehicle's suspension system, so their wear and tear can harm not only comfort but also safety. 

Shocks and struts that are damaged affect how the car tires interact with the road, resulting in poor performance, dangerous swaying and body roll, poor braking, and unsteady handling. These are reasons to check with a mechanic to keep your car safe to drive.

The Signs of Car Suspension Problems

Most car owners don't give their vehicle's suspension much thought as long as they get from A to B without a hitch. But when it starts to malfunction, the bumps and jolts caused by a defective suspension will be hard to ignore. Poor suspension can lead to vehicle damage due to less absorption of road bumps. 

Here are five warning signs that you may need a new suspension. If any of these apply to your vehicle, it may be time to take it to a mechanic.

Your car is pulling on one side

Your car’s suspension may be out of alignment if it pulls to one side. Though this could be simply due to an overinflated or underinflated tire, it is more likely that the camber, struts, and springs need to be inspected and re-aligned. 

If you notice this pulling during turns, your shocks may be failing, reducing your vehicle's stability. You will also experience an excessive body roll that feels like your car will tip over. If you notice your car leaning too far left or right, it's a sign that your suspension is failing.

Your car has excessive dips when braking

If you feel an excessive dip forward even when braking at normal speeds. This means that your car’s shocks have worn out and offer almost no suspension. This can lead to a very bumpy ride, and it will lengthen the time it takes for your car to come to a complete stop when braking. This will increase the risk of collisions.

Your tire’s treads are not evenly worn out

If you have your tires rotated on a regular basis and you bought them at the same time, then all should wear down at the same rate. If you notice that one tire is more worn than the others, this is a sign that your vehicle is not balanced or one side of the vehicle has more traction on the road. A clear suspension problem.

You feel every small bump in the road

Modern suspensions and shock absorbers are designed to dampen and reduce physical forces that shake and bounce your car. If you feel every bump, rock, or pothole, then your suspension is probably failing. The physical force of each road bump can have a cumulative effect on your car’s body and frame.

Your shock absorbers have an oily surface

If you inspect your shock absorbers, all of them should be dry and must not have any fluid along the surface. Shock absorbers that are greasy or oily are most likely leaking fluid. If left untreated, shock absorption ability will be greatly reduced and can cause physical damage to your vehicle. 

Your car is extra bouncy 

Try this simple test when your car is parked and not running. Press down with all your weight on the front of the vehicle. Bounce it 3 or 4 times. Repeat this on the back of your vehicle. If the car continues to rock or bounce 2 to 3 times after you release it, then the suspension is worn out.

The Factors That Affect Suspension Repair Costs

A malfunctioning suspension is quite dangerous. You pull to one side, you'll have trouble steering, and your vehicle will not have adequate road traction and power. As you might understand, this is a perfect storm for a catastrophic accident. So it’s better to have this repaired as soon as possible. 

Your car’s model, make, and year

The suspension repair cost is different for every vehicle. Some make and models of European brands have higher replacement costs. Models with racing-type suspensions as their default setup will also be more expensive to replace due to the intricacy of the suspension. The suspension system of older cars might not have available parts, so the recourse is to totally replace it with a modern system.

The vehicle type

Electronically controlled shock absorbers are used in some premium and performance automobiles. The cost of a new suspension on one side, either the front or the back, can cost more than $1,000.

Car suspension repair cost for SUVs and trucks will also be higher compared to smaller sedans.

The severity of the condition 

New suspension costs can be pricey because modern suspension systems are designed to provide a smoother and more comfortable ride. But these are also more complicated to install and manage. 

If you felt some of the tell-tale signs, but you’re late in asking for suspension car repair, it may be too late to salvage it. What’s worse, the damage could spread to the entire assembly. Meaning you may have to replace the control arms, wheel bearings, and axles. The number of parts affected will increase the cost of car suspension repair to around $1,000 to $5,000.

How Much Does Car Suspension Repair Cost?

If you observe that one side of your car appears to be significantly lower than the other or you hear squeaky sounds when driving, something could be wrong with your suspension. 

Use this table as a quick reference to see: how much does it cost to repair car suspensions?

Note: Mechanic labor cost will be around $150 to $300.

4 Most Expensive Car Suspension Repairs

Suspension repair costs are difficult to predict. The cost includes the part, labor, and the complexity of the replacement. However, these are 4 of the most expensive suspension repairs to help you estimate your car suspension repair cost.

Spring Replacement. Repairing the springs will eliminate bounce, enhance stability, and make the vehicle easier to run. The typical cost of a coil spring replacement is around $400. The overall cost will vary depending on your model and setup.

Ball joint replacement. Ball joints connect the wheels to the suspension mechanism. Replacing one ball joint will cost between $200 to $350, while a set of four might cost up to $2,000. Some vehicles just have front ball joints, so you’ll only need to replace two. 

Set of shock absorbers and struts. Every 50,000 to 60,000 miles, your car’s suspension system should be inspected for wear and tear. Monitoring mileage is a good way to see how often to repair suspension in a car. A set of four shock absorbers and struts will cost around $2,000. However, the price may vary depending on the type of vehicle you drive.

Complete system replacement. When it comes to suspension services, you may require front suspension repairs, rear suspension repairs, or an overall overhaul. Due to structural damage, a mechanic may recommend replacing the complete suspension system. You will spend at least $3,500 to $5,000 for regular sedans and SUVs, excluding labor costs.

Both sides of the suspension system should be changed simultaneously to avoid any stress exerted on the new parts by the remaining older parts.

If Your Car Suspension Repair Costs Are Too High, Consider Selling it to Juncarsus

The make and model of your automobile, the extent of the suspension damage, the brand of parts utilized during replacement, and who to hire as a mechanic. These are all important factors in determining how much you'll have to pay for a suspension repair. If you feel that the cost and effort are not worth it, you can sell your totaled car to Junkcarsus. 

We buy broken cars in any condition and make or model. Call us at (855) 547-1550 and avail of our fast cash offer. We also include free towing and help with paperwork with every deal we make.

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