Pothole Damage

While potholes are annoying, they can actually cause some serious damage to the ride control system of your automobile.

We recommend that if you do drive over a pothole, you have your struts or shocks checked out to ensure that you did not damage them. They control how your vehicle handles and rides since they are the cushion that dampens the bouncing movement of a car’s springs. The springs are there to absorb the bumps on the road and without them your car would bounce continuously, making your ride very uncomfortable and driving quite difficult.

Your struts and shocks also control suspension and spring movement to keep your tires on the road. This impacts your braking, stability and steering. Your handling and steering of the vehicle would likely be altered if you had a broken shock or strut and could make driving dangerous.

There are several red flags and symptoms to look for if your struts or shocked need replaced. It’s important to be aware of the warning signs that your vehicle’s shocks or struts may need to be replaced.

• Your vehicle may sway or roll when you turn
• Your front-end might dive when you brake
• The back end of the car dips when you accelerate
• On a rough, winding road your car may slide or bounce sideways
• Your vehicle may bottom out when you hit a bump
• Your vehicle is lower in the rear or the front
• Signs of damage such as dents or rusting
• When you stop suddenly you lose directional control

There are many things that impact the handling of your vehicle. If you have any of the symptoms above, you should have an inspection. Good maintenance can help your car parts last longer and wear better.