When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Hey guys
Hit a pothole on the highway going about 50 mph
swore the top L tire would go but never went flat, made it home about 10 more miles. Noticed some different in the handling of the car.
when I got out the tire was fine, but it seems as if the car is sunken in on that top L side basically touching the fender with little gap between compared to the other unaffected side.
I’ve never dealt with pothole issues other than flat tires. Is this a blown shock or something worse? I was able to drive the car home relatively ok but could tell something was off with the handling. I’ve attached a picture of the sunken in tire.
any advice or comments are greatly appreciated as you guys are always so helpful. How much damage/repair $ am I looking at? I was looking to get a newer model in a year or so and don’t want to spend too much money fixing it and I’m hoping the damage isn’t that bad to the point I’d trade her in.
How does the front transverse leaf spring look? Is the shock losing oil?
Im not really familiar with that at all unfortunately. I’m taking it to the shop tomorrow and I’ll tell them to look for that. Is there anything else I should look for? Or just oil leaking from near the wheel? Can I see that through the hood or do I need to raise the car?
Youll have to raise the car and get under it. Could be one of many things that bent, broke, etc. Only way is to lift it and look from underneath or pop the wheel off. If you are really lucky, you may just be able to lay on the floor\ground and look through to see if anything is off but there isnt too much room without lifting.
Youll have to raise the car and get under it. Could be one of many things that bent, broke, etc. Only way is to lift it and look from underneath or pop the wheel off. If you are really lucky, you may just be able to lay on the floor\ground and look through to see if anything is off but there isnt too much room without lifting.
thanks for your help. I know it’s hard to tell without seeing it, but what kind of issues would you guess could be wrong if the tire didn’t blow? I’d like to know what to expect before the mechanic looks at it. Are there any common issues with potholes at high speeds that you’d suspect? From cheaper easier to fix issues to more expensive worst cast scenario ones? Thanks!
Make sure to go out and get a picture of the pothole, and once you get the final estimate from your shop, file a claim against the city/county. They should cover your damages. Had that happen to me in Dallas and they paid to fix everything.
Make sure to go out and get a picture of the pothole, and once you get the final estimate from your shop, file a claim against the city/county. They should cover your damages. Had that happen to me in Dallas and they paid to fix everything.
it was out of state in NJ on my way home on a highway and I’m from PA. Would that still work ?
If it took that big of hit, then I'd suspect the tire carcass has internal damage, the wheel bearing may have been damaged, the upper and lower A-arms may have been bent, or their bearings suffered a shock. The shock might be "ok." or not.
Check the brake caliper for cracking at the mounts, the brake line on that side.
Did the tire bottom out in the wheelhouse? If so, then take a look at the headlamp and it's appendages.
Check the door seem gap at the fender.
Check the swaybar AND it's mounts.
Don't take the car out and do speed runs until you get it inspected by a real tech.
If it took that big of hit, then I'd suspect the tire carcass has internal damage, the wheel bearing may have been damaged, the upper and lower A-arms may have been bent, or their bearings suffered a shock. The shock might be "ok." or not.
Check the brake caliper for cracking at the mounts, the brake line on that side.
Did the tire bottom out in the wheelhouse? If so, then take a look at the headlamp and it's appendages.
Check the door seem gap at the fender.
Check the swaybar AND it's mounts.
Don't take the car out and do speed runs until you get it inspected by a real tech.
would I have been able to drive it home 15-20 miles after it happened if any of these things were to have happened
Did you hear anything unusual on the way home?
The only "somewhat" common thing I've seen is the upper control arm bolts coming out. But if that were the case you should have heard something in addition to the weird way it felt.
05’ C6 Hit Pothole on highway sunk to one side?
