Symptoms drivers describe
- A knock or clunk over speed bumps and potholes
- Rattling on rough surfaces at low speed
- Vague or wandering steering
- Uneven tyre wear
Possible causes
- Worn anti-roll bar drop links, a very common cause
- Worn suspension arm bushes or ball joints
- Tired shock absorbers or a broken coil spring
- Worn top mounts or strut bearings
- Loose exhaust or heat shield mimicking a suspension knock
What you can do
- Note whether it is front or rear and one side or both
- Mention whether the steering also feels loose
- Have it checked before an MOT rather than after
How we check it in the workshop
We inspect the suspension on a lift, load each joint and bush to reproduce the noise, and check springs, mounts and dampers before quoting.
Is it safe to keep driving?
Not usually an emergency, but worn steering and suspension joints affect handling and can fail an MOT.