How Much Does It Cost for a Suspension Repair?
Ellie Dyer-Brown, 22 days ago
5 min read
- Suspension
- Cost
FixMyCar reveals how much suspension repairs cost on average.
The suspension system helps keep your car stable. It is responsible for ride comfort - which it achieves by absorbing bumps in the road - and handling, allowing you to accelerate, corner and brake safely.
Suspension problems are among the most common issues drivers face, which is unsurprising since the components have to withstand so much strain. This guide discusses how much you can expect to pay for a repair.
Contents
How much does a suspension repair cost?
Suspension repair price by manufacturer
Suspension repair price by location
How do you know if your suspension needs repairing?
How much does a suspension repair cost?
A suspension repair will typically cost between £100 and £600. It depends on the design of the suspension system, the part that needs replacing, and the make/model of your car. The average price on FixMyCar is £136.27.
| Suspension part | Average repair price |
|---|---|
| Front bushes | £207.56 |
| Rear bushes | £181.72 |
| Front shock absorbers | £346.61 |
| Rear shock absorbers | £278.44 |
Suspension repair price by manufacturer
The table below shows how the average price varies depending on the make of your car.
| Car make | Average price |
|---|---|
| Audi | £120.07 |
| BMW | £147.08 |
| MINI | £121.78 |
| Mercedes | £138.84 |
| Nissan | £140.88 |
| Toyota | £148.12 |
| Volkswagen | £130.19 |
| Ford | £145.70 |
| Citroen | £110.22 |
| Renault | £166.53 |
| Peugeot | £117.80 |
| Vauxhall | £148.35 |
Suspension repair price by location
Another factor worth considering is your location. Labour rates are generally higher in cities compared to rural areas, so the location of the garage you choose might affect the final price.
| Location | Estimated price |
|---|---|
| Birmingham | £150-£200 |
| Bristol | £200-£250 |
| Glasgow | £200-£250 |
| Leeds | £150-£200 |
| Liverpool | £200-£250 |
| London | £250-£300 |
| Manchester | £200-£250 |
| Newcastle | £150-£200 |
| Sheffield | £100-£150 |
How do you know if your suspension needs repairing?
It’s usually easy to tell when there’s a problem because how your car feels when you drive will change. Without a functioning suspension system, you’d be in for a bumpy and uncomfortable ride.
This guide explains how to diagnose common suspension problems.
1. Poor handling
Handling is about how your car reacts to the road and how it feels during braking, cornering or accelerating. If your car’s handling has worsened recently, it could be due to the suspension. However, wheel alignment and tyre pressure also impact how a vehicle handles.
2. Bumpy ride
Can you feel bumps in the road more than usual? If so, there might be an issue with your suspension. You might also notice unusual noises such as rattling or squeaking and reduced fuel efficiency.
3. Uneven tyre wear
Tyres should wear out evenly. If you’ve noticed patches of rubber that are more worn than other areas or one tyre that is balder than the others, it could be due to a suspension problem causing the tyres to sit unevenly on the ground.
Check out our guide to tyre tread to learn more.
4. Excessive vibrations
Worn suspension parts can cause excessive vibrations felt through the steering wheel.
How to make your suspension last longer
The two main things you can do to make your suspension last longer are:
Regular maintenance - inspect the system regularly and follow the manufacturer-recommended servicing schedule for your car.
Address issues promptly - fix minor suspension issues quickly to stop them from developing into more significant, expensive problems.
Any unusual behaviour from your car’s handling will likely be caused by broken suspension. When one component wears out, it can have a knock-on effect on other parts that are no longer protected from bumps in the road. That’s why getting your car checked sooner rather than later is a good idea.
Frequently asked questions
Can you drive with a broken suspension system?
Driving with broken suspension isn’t a good idea, even if it’s usually possible. It puts your safety and the safety of other road users at risk because it can impact your steering and control. The longer you drive, the more damage will happen to other components that sit near or rely on the suspension system. You could end up with a much bigger repair bill.
How long should suspension parts last?
Most suspension components last between 50,000 and 100,000 miles.
Springs often last the lifetime of a vehicle
Control arms: 90,000+ miles
Ball joints: 70,000+ miles
Bushes (pictured below): 50,000+ miles
The above numbers are estimates only. Many factors can impact the lifespan of a part, including how you drive, the quality of the component and your vehicle type.
What causes shocks to wear out quickly?
Shock absorbers contain fluid that loses viscosity over time, reducing their ability to absorb road impacts. Extreme heat and adverse road conditions can also accelerate the wearing down of shock absorbers.
What are the different types of suspension system?
There are four main types of suspension system to be aware of:
Independent
Dependent
MacPherson
Air
You can find out more about the different types of suspension in this guide.
Should I replace all suspension parts?
If you keep a car for long enough, most of the suspension parts will need replacing at some point or another. When a component wears out, you should replace it as soon as possible to prevent it from damaging other parts. However, there’s no need to replace all components at the same time.
What else could be the problem if my suspension isn’t broken?
Brake issues like worn brake pads are often mistaken for suspension problems. Similarly, worn wheel bearings and issues with the steering system can be similar to the suspension.
Think there might be an issue with your car's suspension? Whatever repair you need, FixMyCar can help you find the right garage at the right price.
If you found this guide helpful, you might also like:
Written by Ellie
Ellie is FixMyCar's Content Writer. She has over three years of experience writing about cars and regularly collaborates with automotive experts to provide trustworthy advice for drivers in a language they understand. Her work has been featured in Yahoo! Finance, iNews, The Daily Express and The Sun. She has a BA in English literature and an MA in creative writing from Durham University. Outside of work, Ellie follows F1 and eagerly awaits Ferrari's next era of dominance in the sport. She drives a Suzuki Swift.