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Buying a Used Vehicle

Welcome to my website. My name is Frances Reed. If you’re considering buying a used car, you are in the right place. I recently had my first experience with purchasing a used car and want to share some tips I learned along the way. When I began my search, the important things were color, comfort, and low mileage. I ended up with a green vehicle (which isn't on my favorite color list,) it has over 150,000 miles driven, but it is comfortable. I was very fortunate and had a friend who’s a mechanic come with me to test drive vehicles. Tip number one: be sure you have a mechanic check out vehicles before you buy. I hope I can offer you some valuable information here.

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Buying a Used Vehicle

2 Signs Your Tuck's Suspension Needs An Inspection

by Connor Ferguson

While your truck's manufacturer may have recommendations for when you need the suspension inspected, driving conditions can cause the need for an inspection much sooner. The suspension is what prevents the truck from bouncing and jarring when you hit bumps on the road. Hauling heavy loads and driving on bumpy roads can cause the suspension to wear down prematurely. These are two signs that you need to have your truck's suspension inspected soon.

The Truck Easily Bounces

You can perform a test on your own to see how the truck's suspension is holding up. Just press down firmly on every corner of the truck and attempt to push it towards the ground. The car should have some bounce, but the resistance from the suspension should make it difficult. If you are able to easily press down on the truck, it means the springs are starting to wear out. Keep in mind that this test works better for lighter trucks, since a heavy truck will be much harder to bounce even with a suspension that is worn down.

More bouncing may be happening when driving on bumpy roads or across railroad tracks. The bounce may be so bad that the truck actually bottoms out while driving. A bad suspension will also cause a truck to bounce a few times before leveling out and resting. A more sudden problem, due to leaking fluids or a broken spring, can cause these changes to happen more suddenly.

The Truck Handles Differently

A truck with a bad suspension will be hard to drive. When damage is severe, the handling may be diminished to the point where it may cause an accident to occur. Pay attention to any changes in the handling, especially if they are getting worse over time. For example, the truck may develop a sway while turning, which could cause the truck to tip over while making a very sharp turn. The nose of the truck may dip down far when braking hard as well.

Having your truck's suspension checked is easy and quick to have done. It is inspected using a computer that measures how much bounce occurs in every tire, and then compares them against each other and what the normal values should be. Shocks and springs can also be inspected for wear. The problem may be as simple as replacing these truck parts that can wear down and easily be replaced. Consider having the suspension inspected during an oil change or when having other routine maintenance done. 

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