It happens a lot, you’ve parked your car on a curb, parked on a slope, or parked somewhere super and left the car with the wheels cranked to one side. Practical right?
Mechanics, however, believe that it’s a habit that’s damaging your car. Leaving your wheels set at an angle for hours or worse days, according to mechanic Juan Jose Vicente Pizarro from Benezer Workshop in Seville, puts added stress on some parts of your cars steering and suspension systems like ball joints and shock absorbers.
When a car is parked, all the weight is still on those parts. It will wear out those parts a lot faster than it should. Luxury brands like Mercedes Benz and BMW are even more vulnerable because their steering systems are highly accurate and easy to handle, they tend to lose control of a slight portion of the suspension. The result is the rest of the tire and suspension holds more weight than it is supposed to. Over the years, this will deform the tires and damage the suspension, which is a total shock for the driver.
Why it’s hard on suspension and steering
According to Pizarro, tilted wheels change how a car’s weight is distributed and causes more stress to a certain point in car, all of this extends the duration of the tilted position.
If you’re parked on a hill, it gets even worse. Gravity adds extra force, and now the suspension and steering parts are working overtime— even though the car isn’t moving. Do this often enough, and you might start to notice abnormal functioning:
- Tires wearing unevenly.
- Annoying squeaks or knocks when turning the wheel.
- A slight vibration while driving.
- Shock absorbers or joints wearing out long before they should.
Easy fixes to protect your car
The good news is that you can prevent all of this very easily: When you park, keep the steering and keep the wheels aligned straight. If the vehicle is facing a slope, do not rely on the angle of the wheels. Instead, engage the parking brake or use the hand brake. Other good practices also help a lot:
- Select the flat ground area available to park.
- Don’t keep the car sitting in the same spot for months.
- Periodically rotating your tires is helpful.
- Watch for signs like strange sounds or vibrations—they are clues to attention the vehicle needs.
Pizarro puts it plainly: “if you plan to leave a car sitting for two, three, or even five months, never park it with the wheels turned. That kind of long-term strain can leave permanent damage on suspension parts and tires.”
Even straight wheels aren’t a free pass
Here’s something that many do not know: Cars that are parked for long periods of time, even with the wheels straight, still suffer negative repercussions. If the tires are put under the same pressure (in the same place) for a stretch of months do in fact attain a condition dubbed “flat spots.” The rubber solidifies and loses the ability to inflate on on particular area. The end result? discomfort during travel, a bumpy drive and in some cases, replacing tires faster than usual.
What is the takeaway? More than we think. It does not matter if you’re in an old hatchback or a new shiny SUV. Keeping the wheels straight and parked, using the parking brake, and moving the car periodically can save you a lot of money in the future.
Ignoring small “things” like this one can cause a lot of commotion. Pizarro and many other mechanics agree: small details matter the most when it comes to car maintenance.