Upgrading a vehicle’s ride quality is easy, with tire rotation and balancing, alignment, and shocks and struts being the most important factors. Structural damage can also affect ride quality and should be avoided.
There are a number of factors that can alter a vehicle’s ride quality, and almost all of them can be upgraded relatively easily. Spinning and balancing the tires often guarantees instant handling improvement, and if the vehicle is still leaning to one side then it requires alignment. Shocks and struts are another important factor in allowing the vehicle to glide smoothly down the road. If neither of these improvements dramatically increases ride quality, then there is a chance that the vehicle’s frame has slightly bent from a previous collision.
The biggest factor affecting ride quality is the tires and how they sit on the road. On a new vehicle, the wheels must be perfectly aligned and each tire must slide evenly across the pavement. As drivers travel over rough terrain, air pressure naturally drops and the wheels slightly favor one side over the other. By rotating and balancing the tires, they can remain in good condition for much longer periods of time.
If alignment is off by even a fraction on a vehicle, then it will pull to the side of the road at moderate speeds. This not only makes the vehicle more dangerous to operate, but also has a drastic effect on ride quality. Tires will also wear unevenly when an alignment is needed. As soon as a vehicle has its tires balanced to improve handling, it should be taken in for a complete alignment. It’s also important to note that some vehicles require an alignment of all four wheels, and the quality of this service can vary greatly between mechanics.
Vehicles have shock absorbers and struts to absorb the wear and tear of everyday driving conditions. Shocks are made of a piston inside a tube that is filled with hydraulic fluid. When the vehicle encounters a bump, the piston moves through the fluid, providing resistance and slowing it down, lessening the bump for people in the vehicle. An amateur could seriously injure himself trying to change shots himself. An upgrade in this area can often provide greater stability and a better ride quality.
In rare cases, all of the above updates will not have a significant effect on the ride. This usually indicates structural damage to the vehicle, and while the alignment can be adjusted to compensate for this issue, it will never be perfect. Many regions consider a totaled vehicle a total loss after a serious collision for this reason alone, and consumers seeking excellent ride quality should avoid such cars. While they can be properly fixed from time to time, they usually aren’t.
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