Winter is harsh on your car, especially on its undercarriage and suspension parts. If you live in a cold climate, chances are your suspension is facing extra difficulties it doesn't face any other time of the year. These difficulties add extra stress, and they increase the risk of damage and expensive repairs. Here are three winter road issues which can cause suspension issues with your car.

Potholes:

Melting and re-freezing ice puts a lot of stress on asphalt roads causing asphalt to split and break off. Sometimes, it's hard to avoid these gaping patches of missing asphalt, especially if there's several at a time and the roads are packed to where you can't drive around them. Depending on the type and age of your suspension components, these potholes can either cause a lot of sharp movement, adding stress to the components, or direct damage.

Ice and snow:

Ice and snow are bad for your suspension because they make the roads uneven and make your suspension work harder to keep your car handling like it should. Like potholes, hitting sudden patches of ice can cause extra stress or damage to your suspension system. Melted ice water can splash and coat your suspension and freeze overnight, making some components, such as shocks and struts, stiff until they warm up. Freezing also doesn't help rubber components, either.

Road salt:

Though road salt is great at keeping ice off the road and make them safer for driving, it can also eat away at certain parts of your car's underside. Not only can it eat away at the metal body, it can damage rubber components and contribute to rust on your suspension system. Before winter, if possible, or while in a warm garage, clean off your car's suspension system and spray rubber parts with a protectant and metal areas with metal protectant. If that's not possible, then try washing the underside of your car about every couple of weeks, preferably on warm, drier days.

If you frequently drive through wet, icy and snowy areas, then your car's suspension system is probably going through a lot of stress. Drive slowly over rough patches and stay away from potholes if you can. Check your car's suspension frequently and keep it as clean as possible. Have your car inspected before the winter season begins to see if any components are worn and need replacing so that your. car continues to handle well for the entire season.

For more winterization tips contact a local mechanic service, like Budget Transmission Center.

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