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Nissan produced its first automobile, the Datsun 1000, in 1958. The WD-40 Company (once known as the Rocket chemical company) first produced its namesake WD-40 water displacing spray in 1953. The look of Nissan's automobiles has changed far more over the decades than the always-recognizable WD-40 can (and its formula), but consumers still look to both companies as trustworthy partners in their daily lives.

Think about how much a vehicle weighs; even a lightweight car like the Nissan LEAF comes in at over 3,500 pounds. Now, take a second to think about how rough even a perfectly paved road actually is. Asphalt isn’t exactly silky smooth, and don't get us started on Birmingham's ridiculous potholes.

What is vehicle suspension, anyway? Many people on the road have a vague idea of what it is and what it does: It absorbs bumps and the like. But in reality, it’s a much more complex system, full of multiple moving parts—any of which can fail if not properly maintained.

There are many ways this system of springs, shocks, struts, or sway bars can break, and therefore require replacement. Luckily, there are also many ways that drivers can learn to recognize these potential problems early. 

It’s easy to think that driving during the winter is more dangerous than driving during the summer months, even in the South. (You’ve got unpredictable weather, flooding, possible icy roads, and other issues to contend with during the winter.) But you might be surprised to learn that summer presents its own set of unique problems. In fact, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) notes that over 60% of annual car-crash fatalities occur between March and September.