Suspension & Alignment

The Role of Your Suspension System & Wheel Alignment

The suspension system is responsible for maintaining a smooth and comfortable ride by absorbing the impact from bumps as you drive. It also maximizes friction between your tires and the road. This is important for steering stability and handling. Similarly, wheel alignment plays a crucial role in how your vehicle handles. Alignment refers to how the wheels are angled on your vehicle. The angles that determine alignment are known as toe, camber, and caster. Impacts with large pot holes, as well as associated auto parts wearing over time, can have an effect on your alignment.

We Can Assist with Your Suspension & Alignment Needs

If you're having trouble steering your car straight or experiencing a shaky ride, you may need a suspension and/or alignment service. Wetzel Repair specialize in suspension and alignment work. We will restore your vehicle's handling capabilities and comfortable ride, so you can enjoy driving in Guthrie, IA, Panora, IA, Audubon, IA, and wherever the road takes you.

The technicians at Wetzel Repair will inspect the different components of your system, including your car ball joints, shocks, struts, and sway bar link, to identify the problem. Call the shop at (641) 747-2233 to schedule your appointment.

Signs Your Vehicle Needs Suspension & Alignment Repairs

Problems with the suspension system can cause premature tire wear, negatively affect wheel alignment, and increase gas mileage. Misalignment may cause irregular or expediated tire wear and trouble with handling.

You may need suspension work or a wheel alignment if you experience the following:

• Unusual shakes and vibrations
• Bottoming out during bumps
• Excessive bouncing and swaying
• Leaking shocks or struts
• Nose-dives when braking

A loss in stability or handling are signs you should seek a suspension inspection. Depending on the results of the inspection, our staff may need to replace suspension parts in order to restore performance.

Steering & Suspension Repairs

We perform the following services:

• Ball Joint Replacement: Ball joints are found in virtually all vehicles and work a lot like our hip joint. They connect your wheels to the rest of your suspension system. If you have bad ball joints, you may hear a banging sound, have trouble steering, feel vibrations in your steering wheel, or see uneven tire wear.
• Tie Rod Replacement: If your car shutters or shakes back and forth while driving, your tie rod might need replacement. When a tie rod is loose, your car might begin pulling to the left or right as it follows cracks and bumps in the pavement.
• Shocks Replacement: Excessive bouncing is a sign that your shock absorbers are worn out. Shocks are usually found on the front of a car.
• Struts Replacement: Excessive bouncing is also a sign that your struts are worn out. Struts are encased by a coil spring that absorbs the shock from coil springs and are often found on the back of your car, although trucks usually have them on the front and back.
• Suspension Inspection: Our inspection identifies whether your steering and suspension system is causing you trouble or whether it's something else. For example, we'll be able to tell if you need a ball joint replacement or wheel alignment.
• Sway Bar Link Replacement: Also known as the anti-roll bar, your sway bar connects the front and rear suspension and helps you every time you round a corner by forcing your inside wheel toward the ground to reduce body roll. If you're vehicle handling is off or you hear clunks or squeaks, it might be your sway bar.
• Wheel Alignment: Alignment describes the way the tires and wheels are angled on your vehicle. Wheels can be toe-in or toe-out; have negative or positive camber; and have negative or positive caster. These angles play an important role in how your vehicle handles and how fast your tires wear. The service technicians at Wetzel Repair can check your alignment and perform a wheel alignment service if the angles are off or causing issues with your vehicle.

You want your vehicle to drive at its best. The staff at Wetzel Repair will complete your suspension and alignment repairs with care to get you back on the road in no time. Call (641) 747-2233 to schedule an appointment. We serve Guthrie, IA, Panora, IA, Audubon, IA, and surrounding areas.

Contact us about Suspension & Alignment