The 30-second version
- Uneven tyre wear (inner/outer edge, or one side of the car worse than the other) is the clearest sign of an alignment problem.
- The bounce test — push down on each corner and release — reveals worn shock absorbers if it bounces more than once or twice.
- Clunks or knocks over bumps usually mean worn bushes, links or ball joints.
- A car that pulls to one side when driving straight on a flat road, hands off briefly on a safe empty stretch, needs investigating.
- SA's pothole-heavy roads make this check genuinely higher-value here than in many other markets.
Alignment and suspension problems rarely show up as a single obvious symptom — they're usually a combination of small clues that add up: tyres wearing unevenly, a faint pull to one side, a suspension that feels a bit too bouncy or a bit too harsh. None of these need special equipment to check for, and on South African roads specifically, where potholes and poor surfaces are common enough to knock a car's alignment or damage a suspension component in a single hard hit, this check is worth doing properly rather than skipping.
Read the tyres first
Tyre wear pattern is one of the most reliable, easiest-to-check indicators of an alignment or suspension issue, and it doesn't require any tools:
- Wear concentrated on the inner or outer edge of the tread, rather than even across the width, points to an alignment problem.
- One side of the car noticeably more worn than the other can suggest that side has taken a hard hit — a pothole or kerb strike — that's knocked the alignment or damaged a component.
- Cupping or scalloping (an uneven, wavy wear pattern around the tyre) often points to a worn shock absorber rather than a pure alignment issue.
See our tyre age and DOT codes guide for the rest of what to check on the tyres themselves while you're down there.
The bounce test
- At each corner of the car, push down firmly on the bodywork above the wheel and let go.
- Healthy suspension settles back to rest within one, at most two, bounces.
- A corner that keeps bouncing multiple times before settling has a shock absorber losing its damping ability on that corner.
- Repeat at all four corners — it's common for wear to be uneven between corners.
Listen and feel on the test drive
Test drive checklist
- Clunks or knocks over speed bumps or potholes — often worn bushes, links, or ball joints.
- Pulling to one side on a flat, straight road — briefly and safely check this on an empty stretch, not in traffic.
- Excessive body roll in a gentle corner — can indicate worn suspension components beyond just the shocks.
- Vibration through the steering wheel at speed — can point to alignment, wheel balance, or a suspension component issue.
- Any unusual creaking or knocking when turning the steering wheel lock-to-lock while stationary — worth investigating.
What it costs to fix
A wheel alignment on its own is a relatively quick, affordable service at most tyre fitment centres. Shock absorber replacement costs more and varies by vehicle — often done in pairs (both front or both rear) rather than one at a time, for even handling. Bush, link and ball joint repairs vary the most in cost depending on exactly which component is affected and how accessible it is. As always, get an actual quote for your specific vehicle from a local workshop rather than relying on a generic figure.
Common mistakes
- Only checking tread depth and not the wear pattern across the tyre's width.
- Skipping the bounce test because it feels too simple to be useful — it genuinely catches worn shocks reliably.
- Assuming a pull to one side is "just how the car drives" rather than a fixable alignment issue.
- Not test-driving on a road rough enough to reveal clunks that a smooth showroom forecourt won't show.
Frequently asked questions
Checking a used car properly?
The Underbody Inspection Guide covers suspension, brakes, exhaust and chassis in full detail.
Get the Underbody Inspection Guide — R75 →This guide is general information for South African motorists, not a substitute for a qualified mechanical inspection. Suspension and alignment issues can range from minor to significant. If in doubt, have a qualified mechanic inspect the vehicle before you buy.
The RSA Vehicle Guide inspection system covers 60 checks across exterior, engine bay, interior, underbody, test drive and documents — each with red flags, SA repair costs and walk-away triggers.
Get the Complete Inspection Guide Bundle — R299 →