Suspension: a heavy floor works the bushes
Knocks over bumps, uneven tyre wear and vague steering are the usual signs, and the extra weight brings them on sooner.
The Leaf carries a heavy floor, so bushes, drop links, wheel bearings and shock absorbers all work hard. Knocks over bumps, uneven tyre wear and vague steering are the usual signs, and the extra weight shows up in bushes and shocks sooner than owners expect.
We diagnose the actual worn part rather than replacing whole assemblies, which is usually the difference between a bush and a control arm on the invoice.
Strut tops deserve their own mention on an ex-Japan car. The front strut towers sit under the bonnet where road spray and rain collect, and on a car that has spent winters on salted and gritted roads this is one of the first places to show corrosion. Water sits around the top mount and bearing, the bearing dries out and rusts, and it announces itself as a knock over bumps, a creak or notchiness when the wheel is turned at low speed, and eventually a mount that has to be replaced rather than cleaned. Because it is a structural mounting point, heavy corrosion here is a WOF concern, not just a noise. We check, clean and treat them and fit caps to cover so no more water gets in.
Frequently asked
Why does my Leaf knock over bumps?
Usually bushes, drop links, a wheel bearing or a corroded strut top. We find the worn part rather than replacing the whole assembly.
Are corroded strut tops a WOF failure?
They can be. The strut tower is a structural mounting point, so heavy corrosion there is a WOF concern rather than just a noise.
Does suspension wear affect tyre life?
Yes. Worn components and alignment that is out will chew a new set of tyres quickly, which is why we check both together.
Related
Book a suspension check
Noises, uneven wear and strut tops looked at properly, with the worn part named. Penrose, Auckland.
Booking request
We reply within the hour, Mon–Fri 7:30am–5pm.