How To Tell If Potholes Damage Your Suspension

Potholes seem to be everywhere. It is difficult to avoid them because you often don’t notice them until they are right in front of you. However, depending on what type of pothole you hit, you can do significant damage to your car. It is also important to note that the problems that arise from running over a pothole may not be obvious right away, but they do need to be checked out to prevent additional issues. If you don’t get the car looked at, the problem could become worse over time and be significantly more expensive to fix. 

If you’ve hit a pothole recently, watch out for the following signs of damage.

Suspension

One area of immediate concern is the suspension. If your vehicle used to ride smoothly but is now experiencing a lot of bouncing or rolling, there may be an issue with the suspension. Because this is a safety issue, bring the car into Ethan’s Honest Automotive as soon as possible. Don’t wait until you lose control of the vehicle; instead, have it checked to make sure the suspension and steering systems are still working properly. 

Alignment

Another significant problem that can arise from hitting a pothole involves the alignment. Is the car suddenly pulling to one side or the other? Are you having trouble with the steering wheel? You may have an alignment issue, and the car is trying to compensate. Again, it is important to get this checked out as quickly as possible. 

Tires

When it comes to your safety on the road, your tires certainly play a critical role in ensuring that you get to your destination quickly and without incident. After hitting a pothole, there are a few ways to tell if the wheels have been affected. The first is that you seem unable to maintain the proper amount of air pressure in your tires.  In addition, you may notice that the wheels have bulges or other imperfections, like dents in the rim. It is important to let a professional take a look at these concerns so he or she can advise you accordingly.

Exhaust

If you hit a particularly deep pothole, your car may wind up scraping the pavement and causing damage to the muffler or exhaust pipes. If this happens, you will typically notice a strange sound emanating from the vehicle. You could also have fumes escaping into the body of the car, which is dangerous.

When you hit a pothole, there are so many things that can go wrong with your vehicle as a result. It is important to have the suspension, alignment, and wheels check out to ensure that the damage is not too extensive. On average, it costs a few hundred dollars to repair the issues that arise from hitting a pothole. In some instances, however, that cost can skyrocket, particularly if the pothole was very deep. Beyond the repair issues, keep in mind that potholes can be dangerous. Trying to avoid them can lead to a crash, so it is important to stay as vigilant as possible while on the road.