Steering and suspension 32 www.aftermarketonline.net DECEMBER/JANUARY 2026 Steering and suspension repairs are never just about swapping out worn parts, they’re about protecting safety, ensuring reliability, and keeping customers coming back with confidence. ZF Aftermarket, through its TRW and Lemförder brands, says it is helping workshops do exactly that, by combining OE-quality components with the training and technical support needed to raise repair standards across the board. TRW delivers a wide range of steering and suspension components, while Lemförder is widely regarded as the premium suspension brand of choice. Lemförder still engineers over 90% of its parts in Germany, and its reputation for precision and durability makes it a direct supplier to vehicle manufacturers worldwide. Importantly, the same OE-quality components that go onto the production line are available to independent workshops. Getting repairs right means following manufacturer methods, and that’s also where garages can add value. Shock absorbers and springs, for example, should always be replaced in pairs across the axle to avoid uneven damping and handling issues. Manufacturers also advise replacing single-use bolts and fixings, while a full four-wheel alignment check should always follow suspension work to guarantee geometry hasn’t shifted. Quality is the biggest differentiator in today’s aftermarket, and it’s here that ZF draws a clear line. Many technicians are rightly wary of cheaper components, particularly rubber parts, which can cause fitting issues or premature failure. Both TRW and Lemförder supply manufacturers as OE, and the aftermarket parts offered are exactly the same. By contrast, budget alternatives are often built down to a price, with reduced testing and inferior materials. Lemförder’s forged aluminium suspension arms, for instance, use aerospace-grade alloys to guarantee strength, rigidity, and dimensional accuracy. Cast alloy arms, commonly used in low-cost alternatives, simply cannot match this performance — and while a forged arm is designed to bend under heavy impact to keep components attached, a cast version is far more likely to snap. The difference is not just longevity, but safety. To back this up, ZF provides extensive support. Technicians can access fitting instructions, call or email a dedicated technical helpline, or even connect via video call to share issues live. Visit https://aftermarket. zf.com/us/aftermarketportal/ for details. New tech is steering automotive’s future FORVIA HELLA has started series production with the latest generation of steering sensor technology for another renowned Chinese automotive manufacturer — a key technology for fully electric steer-by-wire systems. At the beginning of the year, the first two series projects for steer-by-wire steering sensors were successfully launched with premium manufacturers in Germany and China. In steer-by-wire systems, steering commands are transmitted purely electrically, without the use of mechanical or hydraulic connections between the steering wheel and the front axle. In such a steering system, FORVIA HELLA’s steering sensors precisely and reliably detect the torque and angle of the steering wheel and transmit this information as a purely electrical signal. As previously required hardware components, such as the steering column, are no longer needed, steer-by-wire systems allow for steering settings to be adapted to specific situations or customer preferences. Visit www.hella.com and www.forvia.com for details. Raising standards in steering and suspension
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