Safety & Handling
Steering & Suspension Service
Keep It Tight. Keep It Safe. Keep It Driving Right.
More Than Just Comfort
When these components wear out, you feel it — wandering at highway speeds, clunking over bumps, uneven tire wear, a steering wheel that doesn't feel right. These aren't just comfort issues. Worn steering and suspension components are safety issues.
Alberta roads are hard on this stuff. Potholes, frost heaves, gravel shoulders — it all adds up. We see a lot of worn suspension, and we fix it properly.
Steering Components
Everything that controls where your vehicle goes
Inner and outer tie rods connect your steering rack to your wheels. When they wear, you get loose steering, wandering, and uneven tire wear. Failed tie rod ends can cause loss of steering control.
The rack converts your steering wheel input into wheel movement. Leaking seals, worn bushings, or internal damage cause loose steering, fluid leaks, and hard steering.
Pumps, hoses, and fluid. Whining noises, hard steering, and leaks are signs of power steering problems. We also offer power steering fluid service.
Idler arms, pitman arms, center links — vehicles with steering gear boxes have additional linkage components that wear over time.
Suspension Components
Everything that keeps your tires on the road
Upper and lower ball joints connect control arms to steering knuckles. They're load-bearing and critical. Worn ball joints can separate — causing loss of control.
Control arms locate your wheels and absorb road impacts. The rubber bushings wear out, causing clunks, vibration, and alignment problems.
Dampen suspension movement and keep tires in contact with the road. Worn units cause bouncing, poor handling, longer stopping distances, and tire wear.
Springs support vehicle weight and absorb impacts. Broken or sagging springs cause ride height problems, poor handling, and can damage other components.
Allow your wheels to spin freely. Worn bearings cause humming or growling noise that changes with speed, and can eventually seize if ignored.
Sway bars reduce body roll in corners. Worn links and bushings cause clunking over bumps and reduced handling.
We Use Parts That Last
We primarily use NAPA Premium Steering & Suspension parts. They're built to meet or exceed OE specifications, and they're backed by NAPA's warranty program.
When the job calls for something different — OEM parts for specific applications, heavy-duty upgrades for trucks that tow — we source what's right for the vehicle and how it's used.
The goal is to fix it once, fix it right, and have it last.
What You Feel
Sensations that indicate steering or suspension problems
Vibration through the steering wheel, especially at certain speeds
Vehicle wanders at highway speeds or requires constant correction
Car or truck drifts left or right when you let go of the wheel
Vehicle bounces excessively over bumps or feels unstable
What You Hear
Sounds that indicate steering or suspension problems
Knocking or clunking sounds when hitting bumps or potholes
Squeaking when turning or groaning at low speeds
Noise that changes with vehicle speed — often wheel bearings
Clicking or popping sounds during turns
What You See
Uneven Tire Wear
Especially inside or outside edges wearing faster than the rest
Leaking Fluid
Wet spots at steering components or shock absorbers
Damaged Boots
Torn or cracked rubber boots on tie rods or CV joints
Vehicle Sitting Low
One side lower than the other, or overall sagging
Cupped Tire Wear
Scalloped or wavy pattern on tire tread — worn shocks
Suspension Work Usually Means Alignment
Replace a tie rod? Alignment. Ball joints? Alignment. Control arms? Alignment. Struts on vehicles where they're part of the steering geometry? Alignment.
We have a Hunter HawkEye Elite alignment system — the same equipment used by dealerships. When your suspension work is done, we can align it properly before you leave.
Learn More About Our Alignment Service →
We Don't Guess
We inspect and diagnose before we recommend repairs. You'll know what's actually wrong before we start replacing parts.
Our digital inspection reports include photos of what we find — worn boots, play in joints, leaking seals. You see what we see.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my shocks or struts are worn?
The "bounce test" (pushing down on a corner and watching it settle) only catches severely worn shocks. By that point, they've been affecting your handling and tire wear for a while. If your vehicle has over 80,000–100,000 km and you've never replaced shocks/struts, they're probably due. If you notice bouncing, poor handling, or cupped tire wear, they're definitely due.
How long does suspension work take?
Depends on what's being done. A pair of front struts might take 2–3 hours. Ball joints and control arms can take longer, especially if hardware is seized. We'll give you a time estimate when we quote the work.
Is it safe to drive with worn suspension?
Worn shocks, bushings, and minor play in components? The vehicle will still drive, but handling, braking, and tire wear are compromised. Severely worn ball joints or tie rod ends? No. These can fail suddenly and cause loss of control. If we find something unsafe, we'll tell you directly.
Do I need to replace shocks/struts in pairs?
We recommend it. Even if only one side is obviously failed, the other side has the same mileage and wear. Replacing one side puts mismatched damping on the vehicle, which affects handling. Replacing pairs also means one alignment instead of two.
Can worn suspension cause tire wear?
Absolutely. Worn ball joints, tie rod ends, and control arm bushings allow alignment angles to shift as you drive. Your alignment might be set correctly with the vehicle on the rack, but worn components let it move around on the road. This causes uneven wear patterns that can destroy tires quickly.
Related Services
Something Not Feeling Right?
Clunks, noises, pulling, wandering — we'll figure out what's going on and fix it properly.