Shock absorbers reduce shock the suspension receives over bumps and dampens the bounce of the coil springs.  The signs of a failed shock absorber include:

• The vehicle feeling bouncy, such as after you drive over a speed bump the vehicle will continue to rise and fall after you've passed it .

• Abnormal fast thudding sound of the wheel jumping off the road surface over grids and potholes.

• Abnormal fast rattling sound of suspension components over grids and potholes.

• In some cases we've seen they can also make a Knock sound over bumps.

• Visual leaks if you crouch down and look over the top of the front tyre and see the spring and shock absorber in the arch gap. You may see an oily substance around the base of the spring and rubber boot.

Coil springs support the weight of the vehicle body on the suspension components. They are very strong and under great tension on each corner of the vehicle. Signs of broken coil springs include:

• Loud clunking sound from a snapped coil spring.

• The vehicle body looking uneven on a particular corner when parked on flat ground.

• Rattling sound on a particular corner over grids and potholes from pieces of broken coil spring rattling on shock absorber/suspension components.

• Graunching sound from a particular front corner when turning the steering and low speed manoeuvring such as parking.

• Burning rubber smell from broken spring touching tyre.

The anti roll bar is a flexible metal bar that connects between the suspension of the left and right wheels. It reduces the body roll of the vehicle when cornering. Anti roll bars don't Suffer issues very often, but they are mounted to the vehicle on Rubber 'D' bushes which do wear out. Signs of failing anti roll bar and D bushes include:

• Knocking sound of anti roll bar being able to move  around in the centre of the D bush.

• metallic clang of snapped anti roll bar, similar sound to broken coil spring. 

• Anti roll bar Snapping is more common on vehicles that have suffered impacts to wheels/ suspension in a previous accident.  

The anti roll bar links are fitted at either end of the anti roll bar and connect to either the lower arm or the shock absorber depending on the manufacturer design. The signs of a failed anti roll bar link include:

• Knocking sound on a particular corner over uneven ground from wear in the links ball joints.

The lower arm connects the front suspension components to the vehicle body. The ball joint on one end allows the wheel to turn side to side and the two rubber bushes at the other end allow it to move up and down. Signs of a failed lower arm include:

• Knocking sound on a particular front corner from a worn ball joint.

• Thud sound on a particular corner when braking during low speed manoeuvres from a worn bush.