April 2019

N ew requirements for overall vehicle efficiency mean that steering and suspension systems are including new lighter materials, and more electronic monitoring is being generally applied. This will affect how you deal with these systems, so more training and support may need to be sought. Before that though, there is still the job in hand to consider. Steering and suspension systems are constantly under pressure, that is what they are for. However, the state of Britain’s roads are adding to the strain and there is a price to pay. Gone to pot With RAC figures announcing that more than half a million potholes were reported to local authorities in the UK last year — a 44% rise in just two years, steering and suspension systems are most definitely being put through their paces. A crucial fact which hasn’t gone unnoticed by the aftermarket, as parts suppliers ramp up investment in the development and supply of replacement components for this safety-critical category. For full details of the RAC study including information on how to report potholes please visit: www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/road -safety/pothole-guide Comline’s Steering and Suspension Business Line Manager Chris Pegg comments: “As the UK’s motorists continue to navigate an infrastructure which is quite literally full of holes, it is vital that steering and suspension systems are checked thoroughly during maintenance checks and servicing. These checks, which are often far from straightforward and highly labour intensive, will become ever more prevalent as the UK’s roads continue to deteriorate. As such, the potential commercial growth prospects for parts suppliers, motor factors, garages and technicians make steering and suspension a particularly attractive business opportunity.” One such brand looking to support garages in this is Comline, as Chris explains: “Employing a focused approach to the development of our range, Comline offers a steering and suspension line-up designed to offer ‘quality over quantity’. The goal is to provide customers with the parts that really matter for their business and deliver the aftermarket’s most popular references at a keen price point. This category is vital to our business and is fast becoming one of our most successful product lines, alongside friction and filtration.” Chris continues: “We offer a full range of steering and suspension components including; control arms, stabiliser links, ball joints, tie rods and tie rod ends, suspension bushes, top strut mounts, stabiliser mounts and suspension kits. Adopting a deliberately focused approach, we offer the most popular references across the European, Japanese and Korean car parc, taking great care to ensure our range includes the parts which truly drive business for our customers. Staying focused enables us to deliver quality products for a highly-competitive price and keeps our motor factor and garage customers in ‘Total Control’ of their steering and suspension business.” Commenting on the manufacturing process, Chris says: “Each component in Comline’s ‘Total Control’ range is precisely crafted for quality and reliability, a fact which is backed by the brand’s three-year 36,000-miles/ 60,000-kilometres warranty. Leaving nothing to chance, every single part is subjected to rigorous quality testing cycles, which include checks for full tension, compression and hardness, weld penetration, life performance and corrosion resistance.“ The brand also employs specialist techniques. Chris explains: “An example of these techniques is cataphoresis. This is a coating process which utilises electrical anodes to protect the steering and suspension components. This system replaces traditional painting and dipping methods and provides far superior anti-corrosion properties offering up to 50% more protection during exposure to extreme temperatures.” Top strut It is important to consider how wear and tear impacts on servicing. Jon Roughley, Global Marketing Director at First Line comments: “In common with all steering and suspension components, top strut mounts and 32 AFTERMARKET APRIL 2019 STEERING AND SUSPENSION Above: Pothole- plague www.aftermarketonline.net SUSPENSION OF DISBELIEF Steering and suspension is changing for the better, and the roads are changing for the worse; Find out how to meet it all halfway