Boom: How Minor Impacts Can Hit Your Wallet

Boom: How Minor Impacts Can Hit Your Wallet

It’s not uncommon to suffer minor impacts from time to time while driving around town or on a long holiday trip. From hitting a curb to running into a pothole, these seemingly innocent mistakes are easy to disregard, especially when your car seems to be operating just fine at first.

The hazards will only get worse as Fall and Winter approach; leaves can create slick driving conditions and ice is always a major threat once temperatures get below freezing.

Even if your car is moving as slow as 5 to 10 miles per hour, serious damage can occur if you hit a curb or other road hazard. Here are some examples:

Tie Rods

Tie rods make the connection between the wheels and the steering systems. Any issues with your tie rods can compromise your ability to steer. Some of the tell tale signs of tie rod damage is a snapping or clicking sound while turning your car or a loose steering wheel.

Suspension

There are various components to your overall suspension system, including shocks, struts and springs. These components give you a smooth and stable ride while driving. Without these parts working effectively, your car can be unruly. If your car is rolling and swaying as your drive, jolts and rocks with every bump and seems to nose dive when you brake, you are likely dealing with suspension issues.

Tires

All the issues above will ultimately impact the life and performance of your tires. Once your car is damaged, your tires can start to wear unevenly, severely decreasing its lifespan. It won’t be long before you will need to invest in a new set of tires.

Rims

Like anything else on a car, rims can get damaged and impact how your car operates. Performance/low profile tires are especially prone to even minor impacts and can wreak havoc on your tires and overall driving experience.

What Can you Do?

If you hit a curb, pot hole or other hazard above and beyond normal road conditions, make it a point to bring your vehicle in to be looked over.

Your mechanic can perform a visual inspection of your suspension and steering components and look over your rims and tires as well. They can also perform an alignment check to see if your car was impacted in any way.

In the long run, and alignment check is a very minor expense to diagnose any issues and, at a minimum, offers peace of mind that you and your car are safe and sound.

Our team at BBack Car Care have been helping customers save money and keep safe for over 30 years. We can take a look at your vehicle, perform a 4 wheel computerized alignment and offer recommendations for any needed repairs.  If your vehicle is fine, we’ll tell you!

Ready to schedule and appointment? Fill out the online form or call us today to speak with one of our service writers today.