Suspension, steering and wheel bearings

The suspension holds the wheels in place and keeps the tires on the road. Shocks or struts, control arms, bushings, ball joints, tie rods and wheel bearings all wear over time.

A worn wheel bearing usually hums or growls louder as speed rises, and the sound can change when you turn. A worn suspension part tends to clunk over bumps or let the car wander.

Noise travels through the car’s body, so a hum that seems to come from the back may start at the front. A road test followed by checks with the car raised narrows it down.

Uneven tire wear is often a symptom of worn parts or alignment. New tires fitted without fixing the cause wear the same way.