Maybe you’ve heard the term “suspension bushings,” and maybe not. Either way, they are important parts of your car that affect ride, handling and safety. Logan McCombs is stopping by to make sure we all know just how important they really are on MotorWeek’s “Your Drive!”

LOGAN MCCOMBS: One commonly overlooked suspension component is your bushings. Bushings are used whenever two metal parts that are bolted together, to control movement in the joints. They absorb road bumps and reduce noise, and vibration as well while you’re driving.

The two primary materials used in bushings are rubber and polyurethane. Rubber is softer, and is used where comfort is a priority. While on the other hand, polyurethane bushings are used in high-performance cars, especially in racing, to allow less flex in the joints, which makes the car more responsive. But the downside is a very stiff ride. Over time, the round hole here will become oval, or it’ll allow metal to move around freely, and give your car a wobbly ride or a sloppy steering… or even worse.

There is no set timeframe for when to change your suspension bushings. They wear differently in every vehicle. It can depend on the environment where you live, how you drive the vehicle and the amount of stress you put it through on a regular basis. When suspension components begin to wear out, you’ll probably first notice a clunking or a rattling over bumps; you may feel the car react differently when cornering or coming to an abrupt stop.

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To check your suspension bushings, first you want to raise your car up off the ground, give the tire a good tug from side to side and top to bottom. If you feel any movement or looseness in the suspension, that could indicate a problem, and it’s time to pull the wheel off and inspect the bushings for bulges, cracks or check if they have been forced out of place.

Bushing kits are available for many vehicles, but you may find the simplest solution is to replace the entire suspension component, since now most of them come pre-assembled and they already have the bushings in place for you.

A stock replacement front suspension kit for this Dodge Ram, including control arms, tie rods, sway bars, end links, ball joints and shocks, can be had for just around $200. If you’re handy with a socket set, you can replace them yourself and save big versus having a shop do it for you.

If you notice a rattle or a clunk, don’t beat around the bush. Take the time now to see if your bushings are bushed, before you get bushwhacked by a broken suspension.

If you have any questions or comments, reach out to us right here at MotorWeek.