Hitting a pothole always hurts - you may not be sure exactly what happens when you hit a pothole, but you can tell it’s not good for your car, truck, or SUV. Here are issues caused by potholes, and what to watch out for if you hit a really rough one, from Westerville Automotive in Westerville, OH.
Alignment - The various suspension components and parts that make up the front end of your car need to be adjusted from time to time. They hold pretty tight, but if a vehicle endures a sudden shock like hitting a pothole or a curb, things sometimes get knocked out of place. It doesn’t take much to make a huge difference - your alignment is measured in degrees and fractions of an inch. If your vehicle pulls, shakes, or doesn’t quite feel right after you hit a pothole, it’s a good idea to have the alignment checked.
Rims - It takes a pretty bad hit, but it’s possible to bend or crack a rim by hitting a pothole. If the vehicle is vibrating or shaking, or the tire is losing air, the rim itself might be damaged. In these instances, the only way to fix it is replace the rim - don’t wait too long though, a damaged rim will cause vibrational damage and wear out wheel bearings.
Suspension - Suspension components like bushings, shock absorbers, ball joints, and control arms can be damaged by road hazards like potholes. These components can bend or break, causing all sorts of driveability and stability issues with your vehicle. A blown shock will allow the vehicle to bounce up and down, failing to dampen the suspension as your vehicle travels down the road. Wheel bearings can also be damaged - a sudden blow might damage the bearings, causing them to wear out quickly.
Most of the time, a pothole won’t damage your vehicle. However, if you hit enough of them, or one particularly bad one, problems can definitely occur.
If something doesn’t feel right with the way your vehicle rides or drives, have it inspected by one of our professional technicians. No matter your repair or maintenance needs, we’ve got you covered. For the best auto service shop in Westerville, OH, call or stop by Westerville Automotive today.
