Suspension & Steering

Suspension

Suspension Components

The suspension system is primarily composed of springs and shock absorbers (or shocks). Your car’s suspension system keeps your wheels safely on the road while helping your car absorb the shock of uneven surfaces. How your car accelerates, brakes, and handles traction issues such as rain, potholes, turns and curves is determined by the condition of your car’s suspension system.

Signs your suspension needs inspection and possible repairs

  • Badly cupped tires and/or noticeable tire shaking, wheel shimmy or vibration after hitting a bump
  • Suspension bottoming on rough roads or when backing out of a driveway
  • A bouncy ride
  • Body sway or rocking when cornering or driving in strong crosswinds
  • Nose dive when braking hard
  • Fluid leaking from a strut or shock
  • Steering noise such as snapping, popping, creaking or groaning sounds when turning
  • Suspension noise such as clunking, rattling or popping on rough roads
  • “Memory steer” or poor steering return where the car doesn’t want to go straight after turning

Lifting & Lowering your vehicle

Sonny has been lowering and lifting vehicles for over 25 years. Let our experts help you decide on the perfect look and products for your car or truck. We have several options to offer our customers including changing spindles, springs, suspension lift kits, upgraded shocks and more. The professionals at Sonny’s will assist you in picking out the type and style of lifting or lowering options that best fit your needs.

Benefits to Lowering your Truck’s Suspension

  • Lower center of gravity giving you Improved handling & traction
  • More aerodynamic since less air goes underneath reducing drag on the vehicle
  • Street appeal & custom look that sets your vehicle apart from stock models
  • Reduced roll-over risk

Benefits to Lifting your Truck’s Suspension

  • Better visibility on the road
  • Accommodates larger tires
  • Better ground clearance for off-roading adventures
  • Optimizes performance & towing
  • Adds a more aggressive look to your Truck, Jeep or SUV

  • Lift Kits

  • Lowering Kits

  • Suspension Upgrades

  • Shocks

  • Struts

  • Leaf Springs

  • Coil Springs

  • Coil Over Shocks

  • Tubular Control Arms

  • Bushings & Ball Joints

  • Tie Rods

  • Idler Arms & Pitman Arms

  • Air Bags

  • Spindles

  • Sway Bars

Steering System

The steering system of your car is everything from the steering wheel to the steering shaft, rack and pinion (also known as the gearbox), all the way to the linkage which connects to the wheels themselves. If you are experiencing difficulty handling the steering in your car the experienced technicians at Sonny’s will inspect your system and recommend any services that need to be done to keep your steering in optimum condition.

Steering Image
pitman-arm-types

2 Main Steering Systems:

The Pitman and the Rack and Pinion designs.
Pitman systems have arms with a steering box, and are usually found in older cars and some trucks. In the Pitman System, the steering box has a shaft from the steering wheel that goes in and a lever 'pitman' arm that goes out.
Rack and Pinion Systems are found in most modern cars as it's relatively simple and inexpensive. They don't have the slack associated with Pitman Systems, so they allow a more comfortable drive for users.

When should I have my steering components inspected?

  • Every 50,000 miles or when you take your car in for routine check-ups
  • If you are involved in an accident that damages your front wheels or suspension
  • When you hit a bump and your wheels turn left or right without you turning the steering wheel
  • Oversteer/Understeer (rear or front of your car loses traction while rounding a corner)
  • Uneven tire wear
  • Power steering does not appear to be working making it difficult to steer the car
  • Loose steering
  • Car pulls to one side when driving
  • Steering wheel jerks, wobbles or vibrates
  • Noises coming from the power steering unit
  • Noises when turning a corner