It can happen to the best of us. Whether you misjudged a turn or didn’t see it coming, you can do some serious damage to your vehicle if you drive over a curb. If it was a tall curb or you were driving relatively fast when it happened, the higher the risk for more serious damage.
Here are the things to watch for and check out.
Steering
One of the first things you may notice after hitting a curb is that your steering is off.
This may show up as poor handling (especially when turning), a loose steering wheel, or distinct rattling noises.
You may have damaged tie rods, which are what connects the steering column, driveshaft, and wheels. When the tie rods are broken or damaged, you’ll find that it’s more difficult to control the vehicle and navigate turns.
The impact could have also damaged the vehicle’s sway bar, which is part of the suspension that prevents the car from rolling over while turning. If your steering wheel is out of alignment or loose, it’s another red flag indicating sway bar damage.
Alignment
Another common problem after hitting a curb is alignment. If your vehicle pulls to one side or the other while driving, it’s an indicator that the suspension is out of alignment.
Tires
Check your tires after hitting a curb because in addition to damaging the tire itself, the impact may have caused damage to the rim or sidewall.
If you don’t see visible signs of damage to the tires, you may notice a difference in handling and steering.
Additionally, driving with a misaligned suspension system will unevenly wear on your tires very quickly.
Suspension
Your vehicle’s front suspension system has a lot of moving parts that can be damaged after hitting a curb.
From shocks that absorb impact and keep the vehicle running smoothly on the road, to struts that help control the vehicle while in motion. The suspension system also includes a suspension arm, steering knuckle, and wheel hub.
Damage to any part of your vehicle’s suspension system can result in a bumpier ride and difficulty handling and steering the vehicle.
These are all things that only get worse over time and put you in danger.
Transmission
A pricey ticket item that may incur damage after hitting a curb is the transmission.
Problems with the transmission can result in shifting problems or jarring other parts into the transmission case.
Depending on how and where your vehicle hit the curb, you could damage or break transmission fluid lines, cables, or valves.
Underbody Damage
It doesn’t take much to scratch, dent, or outright damage the underbody of your vehicle when driving over a curb, even at very slow speeds.
Conclusion
If you notice any of the signs that your vehicle was damaged, don’t ignore it or wait to get the damage inspected or repaired. The longer you wait, the higher the risk for more extensive damage and more money for repairs.
If you’ve hit a curb or been involved in a fender bender, call today for a free inspection by the body shop experts at Downtown Collision in Santa Rosa.