What to look for after hitting a curb?

What kind of damage can hitting a curb do?

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.

How do you know if curbing your car has significant damage?

Symptoms: If the curb damaged your suspension, you'll notice one striking problem: a lot of bouncing, especially over rough terrain or over speed bumps. Why: The front suspension of your car consists of several components, such as control arms, spindles, and steering knuckles.

Can hitting a curb mess up your car?

Misalignment of Wheels- Hitting a curb at slightly higher speeds at any angle could potentially cause your wheels to misalign. Wheels that are misaligned cause strain on the steering and suspension of your vehicle which will result in further damage throughout your vehicle.

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 To Look For On Your Suspension After You Hit A Curb

How are bent suspension parts diagnosed?

To check for a bent strut shaft, loosen the large shaft nut at the top of each strut and rotate the shaft 360 degrees while keeping an eye on the camber reading. If the shaft is bent, the top of the wheel will wobble in and out, and the camber reading will change as the shaft turns.

Can hitting a curb damage your suspension?

But not all hits are the same. Striking a curb often results in a gouged wheel and an off-center steering wheel. Hit a large pothole, and the directional force of hitting the edge, along with the depth of the hole, can permanently destroy a wheel and damage the suspension components connected to it.

How do you damage suspension?

What happens if I go over a curb?

Driving over a curb can damage your car in a number of ways. Here are a few: Alignment damage: Hitting the curb can throw your wheels out of alignment. If you notice a bent rim on your tires or if your car starts pulling to one side, you'll need to visit a mechanic right away.

What can be damaged under a car?

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.

What is the first step in diagnosing a suspension system concern?

Step 1: Take your car for a test drive.

Roll down your car's windows and try to take note of any noises you hear coming from your vehicle as you drive. If you do happen to hear a noise, pay attention to where the sound is coming from, such as from the front or rear of the vehicle.

How do you know if your control arm is bent?

How do you know if your steering knuckle is damaged five symptoms?

Knuckles can cause many handling problems when damaged. For example, your vehicle could begin to pull to one side, squeal when turning, and/or the steering wheel could shake or fail to return to center when driving straight.

How do I know if my frame is damaged?

How much does wheel alignment cost?

The cost of an alignment depends on several factors: The number of wheels: A front-end alignment, which involves only the two wheels on the front of the car, typically costs anywhere from $50 to $75. Four-wheel alignments cost more, usually $100 to $150.

Does a car shake when it needs an alignment?

While a shaking steering wheel is a common sign of alignment troubles, these vehicle issues carry other revealing signs: Consistent Shaking: Alignment issues will cause constant vehicle vibration, no matter whether you are braking, accelerating, or maintaining a consistent speed.

Will an alignment fix shaking?

In most cases, a wheel alignment will stop the shaking by ensuring all wheels are positioned in the same direction. One of the quickest ways to diagnose misalignment is to check the tire's tread. A vehicle out of alignment will often make tires wear unevenly, with the inside tread worn much more than the outside.

What does a bent rim sound like?

Common symptoms of a bent rim include: Vibration in the steering wheel at moderate & high speeds. A thumping sound that gets faster when you accelerate. Poor handling.

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.

What does a buckled wheel feel like?

Shakiness in the front, such as the steering column, is a sign that your front rim is bent and buckled, while vibration in your seat or farther behind your vehicle may indicate that your rear rim has been damaged and bent.