Another potential wheel problem concerns wheel alignment. Hitting the hard edge of a pothole can jar your steering system, causing misalignment to your wheels. You might only notice this damage when your car pulls to one side or another or the steering isn't as responsive as it used to be.
Struts largely affect alignment, so if your struts take damage from braking over a pothole, there's a chance that your alignment has been thrown off, too. After hitting a pothole, be on the lookout for any signs you may need new shocks or struts, such as unusual sounds or jerky driving.
Hitting a pothole can cause bent wheel rims, internal tire damage, alignment problems, and shock and strut issues depending on the severity of the impact. This doesn't necessarily mean you'll puncture your tires or damage your vehicle, but if you have any concerns, get it inspected.
When you hit a pothole, it rocks the entire suspension system and can cause premature wear and tear on shocks and struts. Spotting damage to shocks and struts can be tricky. A flat tire or bent rim is obvious after slamming into a pothole; you'll have a hard time driving with either of these problems.
The most common reason a car pulls to one side is that the wheel alignment is off. Whether it skews to the side over time, or you hit a particular vicious pothole, wheel alignment will be altered by driving conditions, and it should be checked regularly.
If your steering wheel remains off-centered after hitting a pothole, you may have an alignment problem or damage to the steering column itself. Improper alignment can cause premature wear on tires and unnecessary stress to suspension components.
The steering wheel vibrates while you are driving, a clear indication that your wheels have become imbalanced. You hear a strange and consistent noise from under the car while driving, which could mean that part of the car or wheel is rubbing against the suspension.
If a part of your suspension fails, the vehicle may be more likely to "wander" around instead of tracking in a straight line, or feel loose as you steer. This can be caused by other issues, too, such as poor steering alignment, which is possible on your vehicle even if the suspension is in great shape.
The most common types of damage are loss of a hubcap, a damaged tire, a bent or broken wheel, wheels knocked out of alignment, damaged suspension components, bent steering parts, and damaged shock absorbers.
Signs of Suspension Damage
Car pulling to the side while driving. Feeling an increase in bouncing or bumps on the road. Difficulty while steering. Vehicle sitting lower on one side.
Imbalanced tires can wobble or hop up and down, causing vibration. If a front tire isn't properly balanced, you'll likely feel vibration in the steering wheel. If the problem is in the rear, you'll feel shaking in the seat or floor.
A front-end alignment (or two wheel alignment), which involves only the front two wheels, typically costs anywhere from $50 to $75. While a four wheel alignment costs more, usually $100 to $168. You may find that the answer to “how much is a wheel alignment” is higher for luxury cars.
Depending on the impact, it can cause the sidewall to blow because of the sudden shift of air in the tire. You should avoid squeezing it since it can cause a tire puncture and flat tire. If the tire loses air after hitting a pothole, your vehicle's tire pressure monitoring system light will go on immediately.
Things like hitting potholes, bumping curbs, or even minor accidents are all common causes of one or more of your wheels coming out of alignment. Second, normal wear and tear can all eventually cause your car to come out of alignment.
A major problem resulting from hitting the curb is throwing your car's suspension out of alignment.
In the worst-case scenario, hitting a pothole can result in a tire blowout or bent wheel. But even in non-catastrophic impacts add up over time and have a negative impact on your vehicle: Wheel misalignment (causing premature tire wear) Wear/damage to shocks and struts and cv axles.
If the pothole is deep enough, your exhaust could become damaged as it scrapes or plummets into the ground. A damaged exhaust system can cause engine damage as well as put you and your passengers at risk for carbon monoxide inhalation. Internal injuries and impact pain.
“Potholes can cause damage to the car's undercarriage, such as to the exhaust system, steering and suspension components, and even the transmission and differential.”
However, regardless of what is broken with the car's suspension, you should not drive the vehicle. This is because, if your vehicle is experiencing a damaged or collapsed spring, this can cause sagging - which could cause more damage to your vehicle over time.
The suspension has many components, and, thus, you can expect the check to be around $1,000-$5,000. However, it's important to be aware of the more costly replacements and procedures: Shock absorber replacement: $200-$1,500. Coil spring replacement: $550-$700.
The short answer is no - you should not drive a car with broken suspension. Regardless of whether it's a broken coil spring or a broken shock absorber, you cannot drive a vehicle which has any element of the suspension that is broken.
Driving a vehicle with improper wheel alignment can cause uneven wear on the tires. If the problem is not corrected soon enough, a vehicle's tires could suffer premature wear and tear, making them unsafe.
When your car hits a pothole at high speeds, the axle shaft can get bent or damaged. This is seen most often in vehicles with live axles.