Pay Attentiong for Damage Caused by Potholes
How Do You Know If Your Suspension Was Damaged By A Pothole?
In addition to warmer temperatures, returning birds and leaves in the trees, spring in BC means potholes. Potholes form because of the constant cycle of freezing and thawing. The expanding and contracting road material eventually gives way, creating a pothole. It can be difficult to see potholes before it’s too late. Hitting a pothole can cause a lot of damage to several different parts of the car, including the tires, wheels and suspension. Let’s take a closer look at some signs your car has sustained some pothole damage.
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What Parts Get Damaged By Potholes?
Since potholes are in the road surface, the parts that get damaged by hitting potholes start at the tires and can go through the wheels and suspension before throwing off the entire alignment system. The higher the speed of the impact with the pothole, the more damage that is going to occur.Â
Common Signs of Pothole Damage
Because the potholes damage the parts of the car that are closest to the ground, there are going to be some telltale signs that something is wrong. If you notice any of the following symptoms, it’s probably time for one of our professionals to take a closer look at the suspension or alignment systems, or both.
- Steering wheel vibration
- Vehicle pulls to one side
- Uneven and/or accelerated tire wear
- Clunking or knocking noises from the wheels
How Do You Prevent Pothole Damage?
It is very important to avoid hitting potholes. Beyond just keeping a sharp eye on the road, there are a few things you can do to prevent pothole damage to your car:
- Maintain proper tire pressure
- Slow down on roads with pothole damage
- Avoid driving through puddles (hidden potholes)
- Keep a safe following distance for traffic ahead
If you notice that your vehicle has sustained damage from potholes or other winter driving hazards, make an appointment with the team at the Downtown Tyee Chevrolet Buick GMC Service Department.