Both the chassis and steering elements are frequently exposed to extreme stress, due to the poor quality of roads. febi bilstein tells PMM why it is vital that high quality replacement parts are used, to provide optimum performance and avoid premature wear.
What can garages do?
Garages should ensure they double-check all components of a vehicle’s steering and suspension, as a sign of potential wear on one component could be a symptom of further damage elsewhere:
- Worn or faulty stabiliser links, which improve vehicle stability and overall control when working efficiently, can lead to worn rubber bushings or broken ball joints.
- Faulty or poor quality control arms can cause parts to bend or break when driving over large potholes or speed bumps.
- Anti-roll bars can cause poor handling when incorrectly aligned or worn.
It is also worth bearing in mind that steering and suspension systems now involve electrical components, as technology advances. With the inclusion of power steering, it is increasingly important to start considering the sensors involved, and incorporating extra checks.
Why is it important?
Frequent checking of the steering and suspension components is important because of how safety critical these parts are. It is an opportunity for garages to make a little extra profit, and provide safety for their customers, by replacing parts at the first sign of wear, rather than once they fail or stop performing at their optimum level.
Important equipment that garages should use for checking steering and suspension components includes:
■ Four-wheel alignment tracking gauges.
■ MOT shaker plates on modern MOT bays.
When changing any steering or suspension components on a vehicle, a full four-wheel alignment check should be performed to make sure tracking is correct. This will increase road holding and safety, while also reducing uneven tyre wear. febi bilstein has an extensive range of high quality replacement parts, including almost 7,000 components for steering and suspension applications.
“Steering components require special care during their design, production and fitting. febi bilstein’s steering and suspension range features only OE matching quality components.”
How can febi help?
Steering components require special care during their design, production and fitting. febi bilstein’s steering and suspension range features only OE matching quality components. To ensure that the vehicle holds the road, even in difficult situations, all febi’s steering components are produced to the highest quality standards.
The company’s ‘Made in Germany’ quality seal is a promise of quality and fitting safety, both of which are achieved by high- tech in-house production. The manufacturer applies incredibly strict quality requirements, not only to the components manufactured in- house but also to its selection of suppliers. All febi steering and suspension parts strictly comply with the specification of the vehicle manufacturers.
For steering parts, there is zero tolerance for errors. To ensure this, febi parts are produced with modern CNC machines. The material is checked metallurgically and mechanically using various modern testing and monitoring devices.
