A long vehicle life does not depend on engine maintenance alone. Road holding, braking performance and tyre life depend heavily on the condition of suspension and chassis parts. These parts usually wear quietly; by the time the wear is noticed, they have often damaged other parts too. In this article we have gathered the most common parts, the signs they give when they fail, and a simple inspection routine.
Stabilizer links
The stabilizer link is a small but critical part that connects the anti-roll bar to the shock absorber or control arm. Its job is to prevent the body from leaning excessively to one side in corners. It has a ball joint at each end, and these joints develop play over time, especially on rough roads.
The most obvious sign of a failing stabilizer link is a knocking or rattling noise from the front or rear on rough roads, over speed bumps and when turning the wheel at low speed. It may be accompanied by more body roll in corners than before and a "loose" feeling in road holding. A torn joint boot and grease leakage are also visible warnings.
- Replacing both stabilizer links on the same axle together is recommended so that both sides work evenly.
- During fitting, the nuts must be tightened to the torque specified by the manufacturer; over-tightening damages the joint, under-tightening damages the connection.
- If the noise continues after replacing the stabilizer link, the shock absorber mount and anti-roll bar bushes should also be checked.
Ball joints and tie rod ends
The ball joint connects the control arm to the wheel carrier, while the tie rod end transmits steering movement to the wheel. Play in these parts directly affects steering precision. Typical symptoms are a loose feeling in the steering, the car pulling to one side on a straight road, and uneven wear on the inner or outer edge of the front tyres. After replacing a tie rod end or ball joint, a wheel alignment must always be carried out; otherwise the tyres will wear quickly even with the new part fitted.
Dust boots: small part, big protection
Axle boots and steering boots protect the joints and gears inside them from dust, water and mud. When a boot tears, the grease inside is thrown out, dirt gets in, and much more expensive parts such as the CV joint or steering rack soon fail. A clicking noise from the wheel when turning is often the late result of a torn axle boot.
The good news is that checking boots is very easy: when the car is lifted, simply look for cracks, tears or grease on the boots. Replacing a boot early is far cheaper than replacing the joint.
Wheel bolts, studs and hubs
Wheel nuts and studs attach the wheel to the vehicle and are the most safety-critical fasteners. Every time a wheel is removed, the nuts should be tightened with a torque wrench, in a crosswise pattern and to the value specified by the vehicle manufacturer. Over-tightening with an impact gun can stretch and weaken the studs and damage the wheel seats. Re-checking the tightness within the first few hundred kilometres after a tyre change is a good habit.
The wheel hub, together with its bearing, lets the wheel turn. A humming noise that rises with speed, a noise that changes in corners, or play felt in the wheel indicate that the hub and bearing assembly should be checked.
A simple inspection schedule
- At every scheduled service: check stabilizer links, ball joints and tie rod ends for play, and all boots for tears or grease leaks.
- At every tyre change: check the condition of wheel bolts and studs, hub and bearing play, and uneven tyre wear.
- When you notice a new noise or feeling: have it checked without delay. The source is often a small part, but if neglected it turns into a chain of failures.
- When a front-end part is replaced: don't forget the wheel alignment.
Choosing the right part
The same model may use different parts depending on the year and chassis code. So when choosing a part, look not only at the make and model but also at the chassis code, the year and the side of the part (front/rear, right/left). The safest way is to match the OEM number of the existing part.
With the part finder on the ORTAŞ Autoparts website, you can search by ORTAŞ code, OEM number or cross reference, or select a make and model to list the products that fit your vehicle. To see all makes and models in one place, browse the catalogue on our E-Catalogue page.