Bad Roads and Auto Damage
Bad road conditions make for bad rides and they are also hard on cars. Here in Southern California, our roads take a beating. Heavy traffic and hot weather makes it impossible for repair crews to keep up with the work load. So bad roads are just a part of driving here. Not only can this auto damage occur over time, but serious damage can occur after one major incident like hitting a massive pothole. This article will explore the various ways that bad roads can affect your car.
Wheels and Tires
Potholes can be particularly destructive to tires and wheels, sometimes causing significant damage. There are a few reasons why potholes are as bad as they are. For one thing, they may be a lot deeper than they seem. They also have jagged edges that can cause such issues as:
- Tire blowout
- Slow leaks
- Sidewall bulges
- Separated treads
Some of these issues are more costly than others to repair. Getting your tires rotated regulary can help distribute the wear and tear as pothole damage usually affects the front wheels.
Suspension
Your car’s suspension has been specifically designed to withstand driving on roads, even bad roads, through absorbing the shock they cause. Unfortunately, things like hitting a deep pothole at full force can cause auto damage to your suspension and leads to damage like misaligned wheels or broken ball joints. Driving with wheels that aren’t properly aligned or an otherwise damaged suspension can be extremely difficult, if not entirely impossible.
Sensors
Cars these days make use of sensors for things like wheel pressure or the fluids in your car. Hitting a pothole in the wrong way or general driving on bad roads can impact these sensors, which can sometimes be a costly fix.
Chassis
The chassis of your car can also be damaged when driving on bad roads. This is especially an issue with cars that are lower to the ground because the chassis will be more likely to come into contact with potholes and other damage to the roads. In lower cars, the bumpers can also hit the bad roads, causing damage to them as well.
Undercarriage / Exhaust
The undercarriage of your car is easily the part of your car that is most vulnerable to damage caused by bad roads. Car parts that are especially vulnerable include:
- Exhaust lines
- Catalytic converter
- Muffler
Damage to these parts of your car can wreak all sorts of havoc to the overall performance of your car. Your engine could stop working properly and your car can release more toxins that can negatively affect the environment.
Steering Rack
Do you notice any shaking as you steer your car? Does the steering feel loose? Whether your car just doesn’t feel right while you are steering or making weird noises, you have likely suffered some damage to your car caused by bad roads. The steering wheel can be impacted by bad roads, including potholes, which can make you not feel as safe when you are driving your car.
As you can see, driving on bad roads can cause damage to the various parts of your car. Each of these areas of the car are essential to safe driving, so if any damage occurs due to bad roads you will need to seek out a professional to fix the damage as soon as possible.
We are one of Yelp’s highest rated mechanical repair shops in the Long Beach area. To-date we have over 200 honest reviews from real customers. Many of our reviews offer real pictures from real customers. These people were not just satisfied, they were so happy they wanted others to see for themselves. You can check out our reviews for yourself.