I try to attend two Zumba classes every week. It’s a fun way to stay in shape and doesn’t require anything more than comfy clothing and good shoes. I’ve learned over the years that I need to replace my shoes more often than I would expect. The reality is that the shoes I’m wearing for Zumba support not only my feet but the weight of my body as I jump, spin and dance around. I don’t pay a lot of attention to them until my legs or knees are sore after a workout. My first thought should be, “Maybe I need new shoes.” It never is. I always think of a myriad of other things it could be. Harder workout, different floor, etc. Customers will come into our shop and say, “I think I need new tires or maybe a wheel bearing is going out.” In reality, many times it is a suspension issue that needs to be addressed. When you think about what your suspension does on the road, it is easy to recognize why parts wear out and need to be replaced. Your suspension holds your car, that weighs thousands of pounds, off the road, absorbs the feel of the uneven driving surfaces and in Michigan, deals with the pot holes. Your suspension also plays a large part in making sure your car drives in a safe manner. I wrote a blog previously about the ‘triangle of safety’ and how those parts work in conjunction with one another to keep you safe while driving. Tell your service advisor if you notice any changes in how your vehicles responds when you’re driving or if the ride has changed. This can help them identify possible suspension issues. If you see me at any local retail establishments and I have a shoe box (or two) in my hands, I’m just buying shoes to protect my knees and feet from injury. That will be my story and I’m sticking to it!