Bounce test: Push down firmly on each corner and release. The vehicle should return to ride height and settle within 1–1.5 oscillations. More than 2 oscillations = worn dampers. No bounce back = overdamped or seized.
Rock test: Push side to side at each corner. Clunks indicate worn sway bar links, bushings, or ball joints.
Ride height: Measure from wheel centre to fender lip at all four corners. Asymmetry indicates spring sag, uneven loading, or suspension damage. Compare to factory specs if available.
Dial indicator: For precision, use a dial indicator on ball joints and tie rod ends. Axial play exceeding 2 mm typically means replacement.
| Pattern | Likely Cause |
|---|---|
| Inner edge wear | Excessive negative camber (common after lift without UCA correction) |
| Outer edge wear | Excessive positive camber or under-inflation |
| Feathering (sawtooth) | Toe misalignment |
| Centre wear | Over-inflation |
| Cupping / scalloping | Worn dampers or wheel imbalance |
| One-sided wear | Camber or caster asymmetry |
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Tyre wear is the most honest diagnostic tool. It tells you what the suspension has actually been doing over thousands of kilometres. Learn to read it.
A systematic front-to-rear sweep under the vehicle. At each component, check:
Boots and seals — CV boots, ball joint boots, tie rod boots. Any tear = contamination and accelerated failure. In the desert, a torn boot is an emergency repair.
Bushings — Cracking, deformation, separation from metal sleeve. Rubber degrades faster in desert heat. Polyurethane lasts longer but develops squeaks.
Shocks — Weeping oil on the body = failing seal. A light mist may be acceptable; dripping is not. Check reservoir hose connections if equipped.
Springs — Visible cracks (fatigue), broken coils, sag (compare left to right ride height).
Mounts and brackets — Cracked welds, elongated bolt holes, corrosion. Shock towers on IFS trucks are a common fatigue point.
Steering — Play in tie rod ends, drag link (solid axle), rack boots, power steering leaks.
| Component | Normal Life (km) | Desert Factor |
|---|---|---|
| Rubber bushings | 80,000–120,000 | Heat + sand → 30–50% shorter |
| Polyurethane bushings | 120,000–200,000 | More durable; higher NVH |
| Heim joints (unsealed) | 40,000–80,000 | Sand ingress without boots is rapid |
| Ball joints | 60,000–120,000 | Bigger tyres + articulation accelerate wear |
| Coil springs | 150,000+ | Salt flat corrosion shortens life |
| Shocks (OEM) | 80,000 | Desert heat/cycling → 40–60k |
| Shocks (performance) | 80,000–120,000 | With regular service (re-valve, re-charge) |
| CV boots | 100,000+ | Heat + sand + flex = inspect every trip |
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