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Pothole Damage
“My car feels funny after hitting a pothole.” - You, probably. And that’s why you’re reading this article.
Coming through winter and the wetter months and some of our roads are looking worse for wear, with road surfaces being torn up, potholes forming, more debris on the road combined with the ever-present curbs and gutters, driving can be risky business.
Hitting a pothole:
Hitting a pothole is every car driver's worst nightmare, at best it’s annoying and uncomfortable, and the worst case is a severe car accident.
Hitting a pothole can not only damage your tyre or wheel but can also knock the alignment of your vehicle out of spec too. A poor wheel alignment can result in uneven tyre wear, poor fuel economy, unpredictable vehicle handling and even poor braking performance.
What not to do when you see a pothole
Don’t slam on the brakes. The reason for this is that, when you brake, all the weight in your vehicle is pushed forward and puts extra weight on the front suspension. This acts to force your wheel and tyre into the pothole much harder than normal, severely increasing the potential of causing damage.
Violently swerving is also a terrible idea, if you haven’t noticed the pothole early enough to simply drive around it, the best course of action is to maintain the same direction and speed and take your lumps.
What if you have hit a pothole?
If you have hit a pothole, be sure to listen out for unusual noises coming from underneath your vehicle. This is a sure sign that there is potential damage. Otherwise, pay attention to any wobble in your steering wheel and other vibrations. Chances are if you notice a change, something is damaged.
What can I do if I have pothole damage?
Drop into any of our four workshops in the greater south-east Melbourne region for a vehicle inspection, diagnosis and repair for any pothole, curb, or road debris related suspension damage.
Donnellan’s are able to repair and refurbish bent or damaged wheels back to original condition depending on the style of wheel, the materials the wheel is made from and how bad the damage is.
Regardless of whether there is any noticeable damage, a wheel alignment is a great way to check for any unseen damage from impacts with potholes, curbs or debris on the road and provide peace of mind.
Visit any of our 4 locations today. Find your nearest store at the link below.
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