We have officially entered pothole season as spring approaches. Potholes may be your car’s deadliest adversary in addition to being a driving annoyance.
A pothole is a place on the road’s surface where there are cracks, wear, and holes. It begins as a crack, but if it is not repaired right away, it can expand into a hole that can range in size from a few inches wide and deep to several feet wide and deep. Your alignment, steering, suspension, and wheels might all suffer severe damage because of these holes.
The following are three ways that hitting a pothole might harm your car:
Damage to the steering and suspension
Your car’s handling and ride quality are determined by the coordination of the steering and suspension systems. Ball joints, bearings, seals, hub units, shocks and/or struts, steering box/rack, steering knuckle, and tie rod ends are some of the major parts of these systems. The following are indications that the steering and/or suspension system has been harmed:
- Loss of control
- Swaying on turns
- Bottoming out or excessive bouncing
- When braking, the vehicle’s front end dips.
- When accelerating, the vehicle’s back end squats.
- The front or back of the car is lower than usual.
Do not hesitate to bring your car in for servicing if you believe that driving over a pothole has damaged one of these vital driving systems. The sooner the issue is resolved, the less expensive and simpler it will be to fix.
Wheel Alignment
Your wheels might get out of alignment if you drive over a pothole. Although you might not give it much thought, correct wheel alignment is crucial for ensuring safe vehicle control. Additionally, it prolongs the life of your tyres. Wheel alignment issues can be indicated by:
Visible tyre damage
It will be possible to see some tyre damage from potholes with the naked eye. Under all kinds of driving circumstances, your car’s tyres are the sole thing separating it from the pavement. Therefore, any harm to them should be repaired right away. Following a pothole encounter, watch out for the following
Smart Mechanics: Qualified Auto Repair Professionals
One of our highly qualified automotive specialists must evaluate your car if you have struck a pothole and are suffering any of the aforementioned issues. Our technicians at Smart Mechanics in Bishop Stortford, Hertfordshire, Stansted, and Essex offer high-quality and reasonably priced auto care. Call us or book your appointment online right now.