How long do suspensions typically last?

[DVad3r]

Hey guys,

How long do typical car suspensions last before you need to replace the springs? I heard somewhere generally every 120,000 km...

 

[BassBomb]

depends totally on the car

I had no problems with my springs in i30 at 240000km, but we had problems with the cv boot

civic at 220000km same thing

my friend's bonneville 1999 his springs are toast even though it only has less than 50000km

 

[DVad3r]

Damm. My Lexus has 129,000 km on it. I hear some screeching and stuff when I go over bumps. My dad said I should look into new springs before I put on my new tires...

What do you guys think?

 

[exdeath]

Springs aren't normally a wear item. Most of the places you are going to have problems are either the struts and shocks or bushings. The creaks and groans you start to hear when the weather gets cooler and damper are various bushings or any place there is a metal-rubber-metal interface; cold wet worn out rubber.

Likely suspects for your noise are strut/shock mounts, control arm bushings, or spring isolators. If you mean it's more of a metallic screeching than a creaking sound, then struts/shocks.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Spring generally don't need to be replaced until something like 30 years, and even then it's completely optional. I have a coworker with a '53 Chevy pickup, original springs.

 

[DietDrThunder]

46 Years and the rear springs on my '63 Rear engined Corvair finally need to be replaced. I wouldn't think your springs need replacing unless you've done some off roading. Does the vehicle sit level? Or does the front sag (sit lower) than the rear, or vice versa? If so, you might need springs. You might need shocks/struts instead. Do a heavy push on the front or rear of the car. If the car still bounces a couple of times after your initial push, then you need shocks.

 

[hanoverphist]

Spring generally don't need to be replaced until something like 30 years, and even then it's completely optional. I have a coworker with a '53 Chevy pickup, original springs.

this is also lengthened by replacing shocks when they go out, rather than 30k miles after they go out.

this reminds me that i need to replace my shocks, my truck is leaning like a chollo now

 

[DVad3r]

Hmm it's probably not the springs then, probably the struts/shock mounts. Ill take it into my mechanic when I'm getting the tires installed and see what he says.

 

[BoberFett]

Our PT Cruiser had bad control arm bushings by 50K miles. Grrrr, Chrysler quality.

 

[c3p0]

Suspensions components wear at different rates. Commonly, the springs are one of the last components that need replacing.

c3p0

 

[DVad3r]

So what do you think is worn out in my car at a little over 80 k miles (129 k km)?

 

[thomsbrain]

Struts and bushings were ready for replacement in my 91 Accord at around the 220,000 mile (that's miles, not km) mark. The bushing were groaning a bit in the cold earlier than that. The car still drove fine but was starting to cup the tires at that point.

It's hard for me to believe any modern car not having the suspension last 150,000 miles or more unless you really beat it on bad roads or something.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Struts/shocks are usually the first to go, and are wear items.
Next is bushings and joints.
Then tie rods.
Then control arms and springs.

Springs can and do settle over time, but it takes a very long time and is usually most noticed on heavy vehicles like travel trailers and such.

 

[exar333]

Struts and bushings were ready for replacement in my 91 Accord at around the 220,000 mile (that's miles, not km) mark. The bushing were groaning a bit in the cold earlier than that. The car still drove fine but was starting to cup the tires at that point.

It's hard for me to believe any modern car not having the suspension last 150,000 miles or more unless you really beat it on bad roads or something.

Having the suspension last, and having GOOD suspension are two different things. Sure the suspension can last for a long time, but at about 100,000 miles you probably want new suspension to get the handling back to what it was when the car was newer.

That said, if you just need a beater car for communting, you just want the suspension to hold up, and not have to be the best performer.

 

[kalrith]

My '92 Cougar with 120,000 miles on it needs the rear shocks, and upper and lower ball joints on both sides replaced. I bought the shocks, but I haven't had the time to put them on. Hopefully that'll come soon, because they're pretty well shot and do much worse in cold weather.

 

[thomsbrain]

Having the suspension last, and having GOOD suspension are two different things. Sure the suspension can last for a long time, but at about 100,000 miles you probably want new suspension to get the handling back to what it was when the car was newer.

That said, if you just need a beater car for communting, you just want the suspension to hold up, and not have to be the best performer.

I didn't notice any difference in handling until roughly the ~200,000 mile mark and I regularly engaged in "spirited" canyon driving. At that point it was getting just a tad floaty. It was never a sports car of course.

 

[Arkaign]

In my experience, three things affect suspension longevity :

(1)- Tightness of the suspension. Firmer, more 'sporty' suspensions wear out quicker.

(2)- Driving habits.

(3)- Weight of the vehicle. A two-ton land yacht will probably eat suspension components quicker than a 2500lb economy car.

This is just my experience and opinions distilled into what I generally believe to be true. I could be wrong, and there may be exceptions.

 

[exdeath]

In my experience, three things affect suspension longevity :

(1)- Tightness of the suspension. Firmer, more 'sporty' suspensions wear out quicker.

(2)- Driving habits.

(3)- Weight of the vehicle. A two-ton land yacht will probably eat suspension components quicker than a 2500lb economy car.

This is just my experience and opinions distilled into what I generally believe to be true. I could be wrong, and there may be exceptions.

4) Conditions of roads in your area.

1) and 4) especially work against suspension components. Hitting a hard pot hole or riding over generally rough road (4) with a sporty suspension with a firm strut that doesn't want to compress quickly = rough ride and lots of shock not only to the strut internals but the rest of the suspension components. More likely to bend a strut or damage bushing/mount materials hitting a pot hole or speed bump or something with a firmer strut; something has to give if the strut valve isn't.

The problem is compounded as most production sports cars are compromises which still attempt to attain good ride quality with soft bushings that are only marginally harder than the same bushings in a sedan. Meaning it's firmer and handles better, but it's *still* a soft pliable rubber. Firmer suspension that still uses soft bushings to pretend to retain some ride quality = bushings are going to be torn to pieces in short order. In an all out no compromise sports ride that throws ride quality out the window, you would use something like polyurethane, delrin, or even solid aluminum that would theoretically last forever AND achieve the best possible handling, at the expense of comfort and noise on anything but a smooth track. Provided of course the chassis is up to the task of transferring the loads and you don't start tearing sheet metal or warping the body.

 

[Arkaign]

Great addition, eXd.

 

[Iron Woode]

my springs are 30 years old and they don't need to be replaced because none are broken. I only have rear springs anyway but they need to be re-arched.

Shocks are fine all around.

 

[radioouman]

my springs are 30 years old and they don't need to be replaced because none are broken. I only have rear springs anyway but they need to be re-arched.

Shocks are fine all around.

You have springs in the front too. They might be coil springs or torsion bars, but you have springs in the front.

My Saturn L100 has original struts all around (130,000 miles) and it handles just like new.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

You have springs in the front too. They might be coil springs or torsion bars, but you have springs in the front.

My Saturn L100 has original struts all around (130,000 miles) and it handles just like new.

Some cars (namely Citroen) had air and hydrolic suspensions. Though you're likely right given how uncommon they are.

 

[sdifox]

In Toronto? Every 2 years...