Steering and suspension components have been highlighted as the most common car components to be subject to wear related failures, according to research by Warranty Direct in the UK. The research highlighted, that on vehicles aged between three and seven years old, one in three repairs were due to wear-related failures.

Automatic gearboxes were shown to be the costliest items to have repaired, followed by turbos and flywheels.
Duncan McClure Fisher of Warranty Direct said that some aftermarket warranties have wear and tear exclusions and customers need to be aware of this to avoid having to foot big bills for worn out parts. The top ten wear related failure components were:

1 Suspension arms     5.86%
2 Ball joint                3.89%
3 Steering rack         3.88%
4 Turbo                    2.18%
5 Water pump          2.07%
6 Wheel bearings     1.86%
7 Fuel pump            1.38%
8 Flywheel              1.05%
9 Injector               0.86%
10 Auto Gearbox    0.38%

The figures for steering and suspension make interesting reading and show the huge potential that these components offer garages to boost business outside of the normal, ever extending service schedule. Potholes, speed humps and poor road conditions it seems, are taking their toll on these components, but at the same time creating business opportunities in the aftermarket.