If you've found that your suspension as worn and you need a quick solution (such as to pass a WOF), you may be looking at second hand suspension options to save some money. But is that a good idea?

The short answer is that it depends on the parts.

Suspension parts generally are wear and tear items that need to be replaced throughout the lift of the car. This is particularly true with bushes and ball joints, which, while they can be reused if they are still in good condition, generally it's a good idea to replace them with new items. This is because you can never be sure how long they will last, and you could find yourself doing the same repair job again very soon.

However, with other suspension parts, using second hand items can be a good choice. Springs, for example, rarely ever go bad and so using second hand ones is not an issue.

Shocks can be hit or miss, depending on the shocks you are looking at. If they have been on the car for used and passed tens of thousands of kilometres, it's likely that they won't last too much longer.

However, if they are relatively new and in good condition, chances are they will be find and they will probably be a good option if you need a budget solution.

Like with any second hand car parts, you will need to inspect the particular part you are looking at buying to make sure its in good condition. Otherwise you risk wasting time and money installing a faulty part, or one that will fail soon and will need to be replaced again.

If you need parts for your European car, be sure to speak to us at AA Wreckers.