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Your baby, (the term of endearment you give to your car) was new when you bought it. From day one, you and that front seat have been getting acquainted, settling in to each other, and over the last few years, things seem to have gone well enough. Now, you are noticing a little vibration, and perhaps you're wondering what might be wrong.

This area of concern is, for most car owners, a puzzle. The suspension, if you listen to Uncle Buck, means you may need some new shocks, maybe a tie-rod end. Notice how Uncle Buck doesn't look at you as he lets go of these bits of wisdom? That's because, like most things about today's vehicles, he isn't really up-to-date with how they are made, much less what to do with them when problems arise.

So, how can you trouble shoot, or diagnose your car's vibrations and determine the correct way to go?

That vibration. . .

Do you notice it through the steering wheel, or the seat? Rule of thumb: Steering wheel vibrations will generally tell you that the vibration is coming from the front end, or the front two tires and the related suspension parts.

If you feel it in the seat under you then the vibration is coming from the rear tires and suspension.

There is no need to start pricing parts right away; most of the newer vehicles have parts that are designed to last over one hundred thousand miles. This is not to say that those parts can't go bad early. Pot holes, rail road crossings and the like can take their toll on practically all your suspension parts. But, the first area to check should be the tires.

Another rule of thumb: if the vibration happens only between certain speeds, then you most likely have a tire balance problem. As mentioned earlier, you can help identify which tire has the problem by determining if the vibration is from the front or the rear.

Often, the first sign of a suspension problem will be seen in the tires. Outside edge wear, inside edge wear, high-low raised spots that create an uneven surface; all of these can cause weird vibrations. Many of these are caused by suspension problems.

Simply because you notice tire wear does not mean you need new struts. The struts, especially on imports like Honda, Toyota, Mazda and even Hyundai, generally speaking don't need strut replacement until after a hundred thousand miles. The alignment, however, can cause wear on tires and should be checked, to be safe and sure, at least every ten thousand miles.

Sometimes, when having the alignment checked, your under-car technician may notice a bad part: tie-rod end, ball joint etc. . . The reason he or she will recommend replacement is simply because to align the vehicle properly requires the parts to be able to hold the adjustment once it is performed. A loose part will continue to wear out your tires.

For the most part, if you are diligent with your baby, you can avoid expensive suspension repair by simply having the tires serviced often (rotations and proper air pressure) and check for wear on parts to catch any problems before they become an expensive repair. Watching how you drive, how fast you roll over pot holes and rail crossings, avoiding curbs in the drive thru, and those notorious parking spot bumpers will extend the life of your suspension for thousands of miles.

Learn more about this author, S Bond Herndon.
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