How Do I Know If My Nissan Suspension Is Bad?

July 15, 2021

Is your vehicle diving, rolling, squatting, pulling to one side, or making every bump in the road feel like a pothole? It's likely a sign that your Nissan's suspension needs help! The suspension system ensures you have a smooth, stable, and predictable ride. Learn what happens when there's something wrong and what you can do about it.

Signs That Your Nissan Suspension Is Bad

Here are six signs that your Nissan suspension may need some help.

1. Your car is pulling from one side to the other

When your car pulls from one side to the other, it may signal that your tires have inadequate or uneven air pressure. However, a bad suspension could be causing this side-to-side pulling.

2. You constantly feel bumps on the road

A ride that's rougher than normal could be a warning that something is wrong with the suspension. In this situation, your shocks and struts may need to be repaired or replaced. Be sure to listen for noises, bangs, clunks, or knocks when you hit bumps or turn at slow speeds.

3. Your car is leaning

If one corner of your car is sitting lower than the other corners, it may be time to fix or replace the shocks or springs.

4. Your car dives, rolls, or squats

Diving, rolling, and squatting sound like they're part of a gymnastics routine. However, they could be signs that your suspension is faulty. Diving refers to your car leaning forward when you press on the brakes, rolling refers to your car leaning side to side when you're rounding a corner, and squatting refers to your car leaning back when you're stepping on the gas pedal.

5. You find it difficult to steer

When you're on the road, especially when you're traveling at a low speed, and you're having trouble steering the car, the suspension could be the culprit.

6. Your tires show uneven wear

Do your tires show uneven wear? Do one or two tires have bald spots? If so, this could be a sign that something is wrong with the suspension, and it may be causing uneven pressure on the tires.

How to Upgrade Your Nissan Suspension

Here are three ways you may want to upgrade the suspension of your Nissan.

1. Install new struts. The struts help smooth out your ride by reducing the up-and-down jolts you feel on the road.

2. Replace the strut bearings. The struts, a part of the front-end suspension system, help steer your car. The strut bearings connect the struts to the body of the car. If the strut bearings get a little noisy, it's best to replace them.

3. Change the sway bar bushings and links. Sway bars should last the life of the vehicle and never need to be replaced. However, sway bar bushings and links should be checked and replaced if necessary.

Is your vehicle's suspension not what it used to be? Shop new Nissan suspension parts online or visit your nearest authorized service center for suspension repair.