Iowa roads are hard on suspension components. Frost heaves, gravel, and field access roads add up. When your ride quality changes or your tires start wearing unevenly, it is time to get it looked at.
Gus Automotive inspects and repairs suspension and steering components on passenger cars and light trucks. This includes everything from shocks and struts to ball joints, tie rods, and sway bar links. Ryan identifies worn components accurately and replaces them with quality NAPA parts. Suspension work is also the right time to address multiple components at once -- doing it piecemeal costs more labor in the long run.
Shocks and struts control how your vehicle responds to road input. When they wear out, the vehicle bounces more than it should, takes longer to settle after bumps, and can feel vague or wallowy in corners. Worn struts also affect braking distance because they influence how well your tires stay in contact with the road. If your vehicle has over 75,000 miles and has never had shocks or struts replaced, an inspection is worth doing.
These components connect your steering and suspension to your wheels. When they wear out, you may notice clunking over bumps, loose or wandering steering, or uneven tire wear. A failed ball joint can cause a wheel to collapse under the vehicle. Ryan inspects these during any suspension service and any time unusual handling or tire wear raises a question.
Sway bar links and bushings are often the source of clunking or rattling noises over bumps, especially at low speed. They are relatively inexpensive to replace and often overlooked. If your vehicle clunks over every pothole or dip, these are worth checking first before assuming something more serious.
Frost heaves open up every spring along rural Iowa roads. Gravel county roads mean constant small impacts and stone strike damage. Field access roads, farm lanes, and equipment crossings are nothing like the roads suspension systems are designed and tested on. If you live and drive in rural Guthrie County, your suspension components wear faster than the manufacturer's testing assumed. Having Ryan look at it once a year during another service costs nothing extra and catches problems before they get expensive.
Gus Automotive does not perform wheel alignments. After any suspension repair that changes steering geometry, you will need to take the vehicle to an alignment shop before the new parts are loaded up with uneven wear. We will let you know when an alignment is necessary after his work is done. Do not skip it -- a misaligned vehicle chews through new tires in short order.
Most repairs at Gus Automotive are backed by the NAPA AutoCare warranty -- honored at over 14,000 shops coast to coast. Learn more ›
Call to schedule a suspension inspection. We will tell you what needs attention and what can wait, with no pressure either way.