The suspension is a pivotal component of any vehicle. From the shock absorbers to the leaf springs, these components are essential to maintaining a smooth driving experience. Regular maintenance and lubrication are necessary to prevent any issues from developing in your vehicle’s suspension. Our informative guide will explain how to lubricate your suspension system. 

Why should I lubricate the suspension system? 

Lubricating the suspension is vital to your vehicle running smoothly. Not only does it avoid any metal-to-metal contact, but it ensures that the suspension can drive across various ground conditions seamlessly. Unsure when to lubricate your vehicle’s suspension system regularly? Check the vehicle’s manufacturer’s manual – this will tell you how often you should lubricate your suspension system. 

What do I need to lubricate your vehicle’s suspension system? 

Before lubricating the suspension, having the correct equipment is crucial to ensuring the suspension system is properly lubricated. The following items you’ll need are: 

• Grease 
• New, clean rags 
• Hydraulic jack 
• Car jack with jacking points 
• Gloves 
• Safety glasses 
• Grease gun 
• High-pressure washer to remove any dirt from the suspension system. 

Tips to consider when lubricating your vehicle’s suspension system 

When lubricating your vehicle’s suspension system, there are a few things you’ll need to consider, such as: 

• Older vehicles have several lubrication points compared to modern vans. 
• Ensuring your equipment is meticulously cleaned each time you lubricate your suspension. 
• Not overfilling any parts to prevent bursting the rubber boots or spilling grease. 

Find the lubrication points 

The vehicle manufacturer’s manual will have a diagram of where the lubrication points are on the vehicle. It’ll also note the type of grease to use when lubricating the suspension. Inside the manufacturer’s manual, it’ll explain if the components need to be lubricated with an auxiliary lube nipple or not. 

Give the suspension system a thorough wash 

Removing any built-up dirt and dust that’s on the vehicle’s suspension is essential before lubricating. You should use an appropriate detergent in the high-pressure washer to remove any dirt or grit that could damage the suspension.  

Lift the vehicle safely 

When lubricating your vehicle’s suspension, the vehicle must be raised using a hydraulic jack or car jack. Once the vehicle is high on the jack, it’ll give you easy access to the suspension system. 

Check each part of the suspension system for defects 

Thoroughly checking every part of the suspension system is essential for finding defects. If there’s an oil leak in one of the shock absorbers, you must take your vehicle to a qualified mechanic. Inspecting your vehicle’s suspension ensures the defects are resolved before lubricating the system. 

Lubricate the suspension system 

Once you’ve completed the following steps, use a rag to clean the components on the suspension. After cleaning the fittings and nozzles, put the lube gun over each fitting. You should make sure the nozzle completely covers the fitting - this ensures the gun’s pressure forces the grease straight to the fitting into the joint. You’ll want to add enough grease to notice the rubber boot or seal rise slightly without spilling any grease. Once this is done, remove the grease nipple and inspect for any blockages. Repeat the process until all the joints have lubricated. 

Replace your leaf springs with Midland Road Springs 

Are the leaf springs on your vehicle’s suspension system on their way out? At Midland Road Springs, we inspect, replace, and fit leaf springs. With almost four decades of experience, our specialists have replaced and upgraded leaf springs for hundreds and thousands of vehicles. Discover our leaf spring collection online, alongside our light commercial and heavy-duty leaf springs. For any information about our leaf springs, contact our expert team today.