Pothole car damage: what to check after a hit
Hitting a pothole at speed is hard on the car and sometimes on the wallet. On roads across Greater Montreal and the South Shore, between spring thaw and construction season, these holes are everywhere. Here's what an impact can actually damage and the signs worth paying attention to in the days that follow.
What a pothole can damage on your car
The tire takes the first hit. A sidewall can get pinched against the rim and tear, or a bulge can show up where the inner cords were damaged. A bulge is a weak spot that can lead to a blowout: a tire showing one should be replaced, not just reinflated.
The rim takes over next. An aluminum rim can crack or bend at the lip, which causes a slow leak or a vibration. A steel rim bends more easily and can sometimes be straightened, but not always without lasting damage.
Higher up in the car, the shock travels to the suspension and steering: shocks and struts, suspension links, tie rod ends, wheel bearings. A sharp impact can also knock the alignment out, especially if the wheels caught the edge of the hole.
Signs to watch for after a hard hit
After a significant impact, take a quick walk around the car: a visibly low tire, a bulge on the sidewall, a chipped rim. While driving, watch for a new shake in the steering wheel, a car that pulls to one side, or a wheel that's no longer straight when you're going straight.
Listen too. A clunk over bumps, a rattle while turning or a hum that grows with speed can point to a suspension link, a tie rod end or a bearing. These parts don't always fail all at once, but they wear faster after a hit.
If the impact was severe, or if you see a damaged tire, don't keep driving at normal speed hoping it'll sort itself out. A weakened tire or suspension part can let go later, at a much less convenient time.
Tire and rim: what to check first
Pressure first: a tire that took a hard hit can leak slowly past the rim lip. Check the inner and outer sidewall too, where a bulge hides well. A cracked rim sometimes shows itself as a small soap bubble if you put some on the lip.
A wheel knocked out of balance after an impact gives a shake in a specific speed range, often around 80 to 100 km/h. If the shake showed up right after the pothole, have the wheel checked before assuming anything else.
Suspension and alignment: the damage that settles in
A strut that leaks after an impact loses effectiveness, and you feel it most over bumps and in curves. A bent suspension link or a damaged tie rod end can add play to the steering and wear the tire unevenly.
Alignment, meanwhile, goes out without a sound. A tire wearing on one edge, a crooked steering wheel going straight or a car that pulls are the clues. Driving a long time with bad alignment eats through tires faster than necessary.
A wheel bearing that growls after a hit also deserves a quick check: left alone, it gets noisy and eventually develops play.
When to get the car inspected and how to go about it
If you hit hard, the tire is damaged, the car pulls or the wheel shakes, get the car inspected. A technician can lift the car, check the tires, rims, struts, links, tie rod ends and bearings, and tell you what's actually affected.
Keep in mind that a pothole doesn't break everything every time. Often it's a tire or a rim, sometimes nothing at all. The inspection is there to avoid replacing healthy parts or ignoring a real problem.
Mécanovan comes to you across Greater Montreal and the South Shore for brakes, battery, alternator and starter, spark plugs, serpentine belt, oil changes, wheel bearings, shocks and struts, radiator, suspension links and tie rod ends. If a pothole left its mark, request a free estimate at mecanovan.com.
Frequently asked questions
- Can a pothole puncture a tire without me noticing right away?
- Yes. The tire can leak slowly past the rim lip or develop a sidewall bulge. Check the pressure and inspect the sidewalls in the days after an impact, especially if the hole was deep or you were driving fast.
- How do I know if my alignment is off after a hit?
- The steering wheel isn't straight when you're driving straight, the car pulls to one side, or a tire wears on one edge. Those are the most common signs. A shake at one specific speed is more likely an unbalanced wheel or a damaged rim.
- Can I keep driving on a dented rim?
- It depends on how bad it is. A small bend in a steel rim may hold for a while, but a crack, an air leak or a steady vibration calls for a check. A cracked rim can lose air without warning.
- Which suspension parts are most vulnerable to a pothole?
- Struts, suspension links and tie rod ends take a lot of it. Wheel bearings can also be marked by a sharp hit. A clunk over bumps or a rattle while turning deserves an inspection.
- Can Mécanovan check my car after a pothole?
- Mécanovan does mobile mechanic work and can inspect and replace parts affected by an impact: shocks and struts, suspension links, tie rod ends, wheel bearings, brakes, battery and more. Request a free estimate at mecanovan.com to see what's covered.