Much like humans, a vehicles joints suffer wear and tear overtime. For the human skeleton/ chassis, the medical term osteoarthritis is the wearing of cartilage resulting in a "bone against bone" joint, reduced motion, significant pain, not to mention the negative implications for surrounding areas of the body to that joint. In terms of a vehicle, bushings within the chassis/ skeleton and suspension play the role of ‘cartilage’, and as they wear and tear known as ‘chassis arthritis’, the vehicle’s performance, reliability and safety can suffer.

Images of Carthritis:

Carthritis - Symptoms

Vehicle noises during acceleration, braking, changing road surfaces and cornering
Key symptoms:

• knocking
• clunks
• vibrations

Irregular steering wheel behaviour
Key symptoms:

• vibrations
• vagueness
• off centre
• not self centring
• poor responsiveness

Inefficient braking
Key symptoms:

• soft brake pedal feel
• darting to one side during braking
• wheel shudder during braking

Unpredictable stability
Key symptoms:

• excess body roll during cornering
• understeer or lack of front wheel grip during cornering (common in front & all wheel drives)
• oversteer or lack of rear end grip during cornering (common in rear wheel drives)

Premature wear of tyres due to misalignment
Key symptoms:

• smooth inner edge due to excess negative camber
• feathered edges on the tyre due to incorrect toe settings

Images of uneven tyre wear due to carthritis:

Carthritis - Treatment

Carthritis has for decades been successfully treated using Nolathane Suspension Solutions, a polyurethane bushing that replaces worn factory bushings or joints (typically rubber). Nolathane bushings boast the very latest in material technology matched with application engineering meaning they last longer, enhance performance and provide that ‘as new’ feeling to the vehicle. Nolathane suspension bushings synchronise a suspension system for optimal safety, handling and performance. They are the most positive link between your vehicle's springs, struts or shocks. Nolathane's range includes replacement and enhancement bushings for control arms, radius rods, trailing arms, leaf springs, panhard rods, sway bars, crossmembers, steering rack and pinions, diff mounts and more. Camber & caster alignment kits, lowering blocks, sway bar links and complete control arms fitted with Nolathane are also available.

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