How hard do you have to hit a curb to cause damage?

Hitting a curb at speeds of just 5–10 mph is enough to cause significant damage. Even if the impact feels insignificant, you should still pull over to assess the damage. Check the tire, especially the sidewall, for damage.

Can hitting a curb cause damage?

Hitting a curb can do some nasty damage to your tires, let alone other vehicle components including the suspension. Even striking one at turtle-like speed can wreck your day!

Can hitting a curb cause no damage?

You can total your car after hitting the curb, especially if you run into the curb while driving at high speed, but it's more likely that your car's wheels or tires may get damaged.

What happens if you hit a curb too hard?

Hitting a curb hard enough can shift your axle and wheel shaft into the transmission. Even a slight jolt to the case can do harm. If you run over a curb and scrape the bottom of your car, it can even disconnect linkages and cables from the transmission case housing itself.

Is hitting the curb a big deal?

While hitting a curb may not seem like a big deal, it can actually be one of the worst things you can do to your wheels. The impact can mess with the vehicle's suspension, and cause unforeseen mechanical problems down the road.

5 Things to Check if You Hit a Curb

What to look for after hitting a curb?

What does hitting a curb feel like?

If you turn the wheel on a car with coil springs, you'll be able to feel a twitch or movement. If you hear a strange noise, or can feel a jitter while driving, you may have damaged the wheel bearing. The abrupt force of a curb impact can easily damage the wheel bearing, so be sure to check it.

What is considered sidewall damage?

What is a Sidewall Tire Damage? Any relevant issues or deficiencies you encounter within the sidewall of your tires, may it be on the inner or outer side of the wall can be considered as sidewall damage. This is a very serious concern and can lead to a complete tire failure.

Why is my car shaking after I hit a curb?

Damaged Axle – Bent axles, often caused by minor accidents or hitting a curb or two, will cause vibration and shaking. The more speed that your vehicle picks up, the worse it gets.

How do I know if my frame is damaged?

How hard is it to bend the frame of a car?

“It takes a serious amount of force to bend the frame of your vehicle, so most people won't ever have to worry about this problem. However, if you are off-roading at high speeds, there's a chance you could hit a deep hole that would affect the structural integrity of your truck.

Can you mess up your alignment hitting a curb?

Possible Damage from Hitting a Curb

Tire misalignment: A curb impact can mess with the tire alignment. Even a slight misalignment can affect the steering and suspension. Damage to the latter can also affect the shocks and steering wheel rod.

Is sidewall damage illegal?

There must, by law, be at least 1.6mm of tread depth across the centre 3/4 of the width of the tread throughout the entire circumference of the tyre. There must be no damage to the tyre body - sidewalls or tread, no bulges or cuts.

What is considered sidewall of tire?

The Sidewall is the "smooth", vertical area on the side of the tire between the edge of the tread and the bead of the tire, which does not include any area where tread grooves are still visible.

How do you ruin a tire?

Can I drive on a slightly bent rim?

Can I Still Drive If I Have a Bent Rim? Here at RGX we never recommend driving on a bent rim as this can lead to further damage to the wheel, tire, & steering. Bents rims will usually have a hard time maintaining a proper seal with the tire, this will lead to a loss in air pressure.

Can a slightly bent rim be fixed?

When rims are slightly bent, they can almost certainly be repaired. However, more extensive damage is a different situation. When your rims are severely bent out of shape, they are probably beyond repair. In this case, rim replacement may be your only option.

How do rims get bent?

Heavy impact on the wheel is the primary reason for a bent wheel. Though rims are made of aluminum, steel or chrome, they lose their strength over time because of high impacts such as speed bumps, potholes, and uneven roads. This leads to bending of the rim.

How does suspension get damaged?

What Causes Suspension Damage? Wear and tear is the leading cause of suspension damage. Over time, parts of your suspension system get weak and rusted, thereby affecting their functions. Also, sudden hit or shock from a pothole or any other road obstacles can damage the suspension system.

What happens if you scrape the bottom of your car?

When you scrape the underside of your vehicle enough, you're also scraping away the protective coatings on various metal surfaces. This increases the risk of corrosion, which may lead to the failure of some parts. This is a bigger problem if you live in the salt belt.

What causes frame damage to a car?

Typically frame damage is caused by a collision; whether with an object or another vehicle. While on the surface you might have just a few dents or scratches, underneath you could find that your vehicle's frame has actually been damaged which could have repercussions later.

How much does it cost to fix a bent car frame?

Fixing a bent car frame can cost around $750 to fix, but it will depend on how severely the frame is damaged and the length of time it takes to fix. When you fix a bent frame, technicians use a large clamp and hydraulic rams to force your frame back into place.

Can frame damage be fixed?

Absolutely! Contrary to popular belief, frame damage can be repaired by an auto body shop with skilled technicians. Repair is done using specialized framing machines, which can return as close to factory specifications. These machines use hydraulic pressure and torque to straighten bent parts of your frame.

What's considered frame damage?

What is frame damage? The term “frame damage” can refer to any damage to parts of the vehicle intended to support the vehicle's structural integrity. This damage is typically caused by outside forces, such as collisions or disrepair.