Will Electric Vehicles Need More Suspension and Chassis Maintenance?

Electric vehicles are in high demand, and this is partly because they need less powertrain maintenance than gas or diesel vehicles. For example, electric vehicles eliminate the need for oil changes, fuel filter replacements, and so on.

This doesn’t mean that electric vehicles are low maintenance in general. EVs have other areas that need more maintenance. For example, electric vehicles need more suspension and chassis component maintenance.

Why Do EVs Need More Suspension and Chassis Maintenance?

The short answer? Electric vehicles are heavier than their gas-powered counterparts. For example, a new Nissan Leaf can weigh as much as 3,800 pounds. Its counterpart, a new Nissan Versa – which is the same size and built on the same platform – weighs around 2,700 pounds. That’s a difference of 1,000 pounds.

Why do electric vehicles weigh a lot more than comparable gas or diesel powered vehicles? The battery.

Electric vehicle batteries (EVBs) – which power the motor – add hundreds of pounds to an electric vehicle’s weight.

• A Nissan Leaf’s battery weighs over 600 pounds
• A Tesla’s battery weighs about 1,200 pounds

The heavier the car, the faster the suspension and chassis components are going to wear out.

The Extra Weight Affects Which Suspension And Chassis Parts?

The heavier the vehicle, the more affected the following suspension and chassis parts:

• Suspension bushings: To put it quite simply, bushings are cushions. They not only absorb the impacts from the road, but they also support your vehicle’s weight. Bushings contain rubber, polyurethane, and other materials. That means excessive weight will wear out bushings faster. To be more specific, bushings will crack and degrade much faster.
• Struts: Struts support the weight of the vehicle. The more weight your struts have to support, the more problems you’ll experience. For example:
  • Poor handling
  • Inability to handle tight turns
  • Faster tire wear
  • Bad alignment
• Hub assemblies: The more weight a vehicle has, the more strain there is on the wheel bearings in the hub assemblies. That means your wheel bearings will wear out faster over time.

Wear and tear is normal in all car parts. But electric vehicle owners have to check and replace their suspension and chassis parts more often. If you’re an electric vehicle owner, you should consider installing more robust aftermarket parts.

Installing More Robust Parts

• Bushings
• Struts
• Hub assemblies

Well built aftermarket parts are more “heavy duty” than OEM parts. They can support your electric vehicle’s weight for a long time, and it’s pretty easy to swap out suspension and chassis parts for aftermarket ones.

GMB Is The Brand Of Choice For Many Electric Vehicle Owners

Quality and fitment are important in ensuring that your aftermarket parts last a long time. This especially rings true for suspension and chassis parts. Many electric vehicle owners turn to GMB for robust suspension and chassis parts. GMB is a trusted brand because:

• Tier 1 OEM for over 75 years
• All GMB parts are manufactured with high quality materials

Check out GMB products here. If you have any questions about any of our products, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.