Have you been wondering why your car usually climb road bumps with difficulty? Cars are not supposed to have difficulties climbing bumps or jarring when going over small potholes. If your car is experiencing any of these, then you should have it looked over by a competent mechanic, as this might be symptoms of a more severe problem.

Cars have been designed to have a smooth ride over things like bumps and uneven roads, as there are mechanical parts to ensure it goes over them smoothly. But a detuned or badly maintained car might have some difficulty achieving a smooth ride.

Naijacarnews brings you the top 4 Reasons that can cause your car to have a rough ride over terrains that should be smooth. Let's dive in!

1. Tyre problems

This should be the first point of call when troubleshooting the causes of a rough ride. This because tyres are the ones in direct contact will the roads, and if there is anything wrong with the tyres or its components, then you've got a recipe for rough rides. A couple of things might be wrong with the tyres, let's consider them.

a. Unbalanced and non-rotated tyres

If tyres are not properly rotated and balanced, it might lead to an uneven wearing of the tyres causing a rough ride. The first sign of this is usually a vibration of the steering wheel, and then you'll notice that your car is pulling to one side. It might also start bouncing around as it attempts to climb a bump or go over other uneven surfaces. These are all symptoms of unbalanced and non-rotated tyres.

Video: How to Rotate Your Tires

3. Tyres with unevenly worn surfaces

Tyres wear depending on different reasons. It is advised that tyres should be rotated on a regular 6-month schedule. This will take care of uneven wearing of tyre surfaces.

c. Under-gauging or over-gauging tyre pressures

This causes the tyre to have a slushy feel as it climbs uneven surfaces when tyres are under-gauged. On the other hand, small bumps become seriously felt when tyres are over-gauged as they climb rough surfaces. Making sure your tyres are properly gauged as outlined in your car manual solves this problem. It also ensures that your tyres don't wear out or warp unnecessarily. A good time intervals to check your tyre pressures is every 2 to 3 weeks.

Air pressure gauge should be normal, not over-gauged or under-gauged for a smooth ride!

2. Are your suspensions good?

Suspensions absorb the impact of entering a pothole or climbing a bump. However, if your suspensions are not in good shape, then, you might start to experience rough rides. But what are the things that could point to bad suspension as a possible cause of rough rides?

Signs that you might have a bad suspension include:

• When your car begins to jump up and down a couple of times after climbing a bump
• When you notice the presence of red fluids beneath your car when parked
• When you feel your car is leaning heavily to one side
• When perceiving a sort of jolting feel after climbing a bump

The springs and the suspension bar can be damaged over a period of use and can result in one or more of the above-mentioned indications. If you live, work or frequently drive in areas with untarred roads, then these symptoms might be worse. You might need to have your suspension checked by an experienced mechanic.

A bad suspension is definitely a cause of rough rides in a car!

3. Axles - check if damaged or bent

The transmission system in your car gets power from the engine and transmits it to the wheel by means of a connecting shaft called the axle. The axles are damaged when subjected to climbing huge obstacles like curbs, or by speeding over potholes and bumps.

A damaged or bent axle can cause a wobbly movement of your vehicle as the spinning of the wheels are not done evenly. This causes a rumbling effect on the car and can get worse as the axle problem persists.

To correct this might need for the axle to be straightened back if the bend is minimal. But for severe bends, a replacement of the axle might be the solution albeit a very expensive one.

A damaged axle or a bent axle can be the cause of a rough ride!

4. Is your engine misfiring? Accidental discharge!

A common cause of a misfiring engine is the inadequate mix of oxygen and fuel or faulty spark plugs. This usually amounts to excess vibration of the vehicle while on high speed, while moving at certain speeds.

A simple repair or replacement of the fuel injection or spark plugs will do the magic, but it is wise to always fix these little things before it aggravates to some big issues.

Wrapping up!

So that's it, folks! Naijacarnews gives you a checklist of things to troubleshoot when you're not having a smooth ride. Keep this handy and remember to fix any problem as soon as noticed to prevent further damage to other car components.