What Can Go Wrong with the Wheels of Your Volkswagen?

Of all the many parts of your Volkswagen that can have some issues after repeated use on the road, your wheels are one of the most important. They are critical for your ability to drive your vehicle straight and safely.

Unfortunately, these problems are mostly unavoidable. Between all the rough roads, potholes, and bumps that you’ll inevitably encounter on the road, your wheels, and more specifically, your suspension is bound to take a beating. We’ve put together the most common problems that can occur with your Volkswagen’s wheels and suspension.

Poor Wheel Alignment

After driving over enough bumps and potholes, the alignment of your wheels might suffer a bit. This happens when your wheels wear down unevenly, causing problems in your ability to steer and handle your car effectively.

If you notice your steering isn’t behaving the way it normally does, and your Volkswagen wants to veer off to one side in particular, you could have a problem with your wheel alignment. This can be dangerous and cause further damage to your vehicle, so bring it to a mechanic to have it checked out as soon as possible!

Damaged Shock Absorbers

Shock absorbers are the part of your car that makes it so you can’t feel all the minor bumps and holes you drive over and helps to keep your wheels on the road instead of bouncing. If you feel your car bouncing and shaking more than usual, or feel like rough roads feel even rougher, there could be a problem with your shock absorbers. This is a very uncomfortable way to drive and can cause further damage to your vehicle. If you think your shock absorbers are damaged, you should try to have this problem rectified quickly.

Damaged Springs

The springs of your vehicle are what hold up the weight of your vehicle so it does not bear down on your wheels and axel. If one of your springs is damaged, the corner of your car over the wheel with the damaged spring will be sunken down lower than the other corners. Check out the corners whenever you park on flat ground and make sure that they are all level. If they’re not, you most likely have a problem with one of your springs and should get it fixed immediately.

Ball Joints

A ball joint is a piece of your suspension that provides your wheels with pivoting movement. They consist of a ball and socket and sit between your control arms and steering knuckles. They also absorb up and down movements that your car makes. If they start to creak or squeak as you turn, it is probably time to have them repaired or replaced.

Control Arms

Control arms are an extremely important part of your Volkswagen’s suspension. Their primary function is to be hinges that hold your wheels to the vehicle’s frame and connect the steering system to the wheels as well. If this crucial component is damaged, it is probably that the brushings have worn out.

The brushings are built to absorb shock and are made of rubber and metal. If you feel like your steering feels loose, or you hear some clunking noises coming from your wheels, you are more than likely experiencing a problem with your control arms. If this is the case, try and have the problem taken care of as soon as you can. These are a crucial part of your steering system, so it is unsafe to leave them damaged for too long.

Landmark Motors for Expert Wheel Care

If your wheels or suspension are experiencing any of the above problems, it is extremely important you have these issues looked at by a professional mechanic as soon as possible. Leaving these problems alone will not only create more expensive problems over time but can also be extremely unsafe.

It is important to be able to steer and handle your vehicle safely and accurately. If you live in or around Seattle or Bellevue, WA, bring your Volkswagen to Landmark Motors. We’ll take a look at what’s going on with your wheels and suspension, diagnose the problem, fix it quickly, and have you and your Volkswagen back on the road with confidence.