A shock absorber can cost from $50 to upwards of $500. You may have no choice but to replace the shock absorbers at either end of the same axle. Repeat the test on all four corners of the vehicle. If the car bounces twice or more, it’s time to change that shock absorber. The best way to check is to push down hard two or three times on a corner of the vehicle, then let go when the car is at its lowest point. The reverse is also true, however: A shock absorber may show no signs of leaking, but that doesn’t mean it’s still in top shape. Oil leaking from a shock absorber is a bad sign, but it doesn’t necessarily mean it needs replacing. There are ways to tell if a shock absorber is reaching the end of its useful life. They usually wear out due to extensive driving on bad roads. ![]() Shock absorbers rarely break from impact with potholes. Potholes cause collateral damage to shock absorbers A wheel alignment can cost $50 to $150 or more, depending on how sophisticated the steering system is and how much damage has been done. If the wheels are not realigned, tires can wear quickly and driving may become noticeably uncomfortable. A replacement linkage can cost between $75 and $250, depending on the make of car, while a new suspension arm can lighten your wallet by $150 to more than $350. If there is enough horizontal force, suspension parts (like the suspension arm) as well as the steering linkage (or tie rod) can be damaged and the wheels knocked out of alignment. These forces are transmitted to the suspension, which is meant to move up and down. When a wheel falls into a pothole, it is subject to both vertical and horizontal force. While a new steel wheel may cost $40 to $200, some alloy wheels sell for more than $500. Alloy wheels are more fragile and more expensive. Repair options for a wheel are quite limited, so more often than not it will have to be replaced. It may bend, crack, or break as a result. ![]() If the tire doesn’t absorb the full impact-if it’s underinflated, for example-the wheel will suffer the consequences. Wheels are also harmed by holes in the road They’ll be able to tell if a tire’s belt is broken, which could pose a serious safety hazard.Ī replacement tire can cost anywhere from $70 to more than $400. If you have any doubts, it would be wise to have your tires examined by a specialist. Low-profile tires-more and more late-model cars are equipped with them-can sustain severe damage from this kind of impact. An overinflated tire runs a greater risk of structural damage, whereas an underinflated tire might rupture when squeezed between the pothole and the wheel. The tire absorbs the impact first, and this can break its interior structure, tear the sidewall, or both. Replacing them costs $20 to $150 per wheel. So it’s easy to lose them when your car rolls into a pothole. Hubcaps are often attached to wheels only by pressure clamps. The most common types of damage are loss of a hubcap, a damaged tire, a bent or broken wheel, wheels knocked out of alignment, damaged suspension components, bent steering parts, and damaged shock absorbers. When you drive into a pothole, it’s not just the tire that absorbs the impact. ![]() One hole in the road: Many types of damage Longer potholes cause the most damage-to things like the vehicle frame or platform- because at practically any speed, the tire is likely to hit bottom before exiting. The smaller the wheel diameter, the more severe the impact, especially if the depth of the hole is the same as the diameter of the wheel. The amount of damage depends on the diameter of the tire, the depth and length of the pothole, and the speed of the vehicle. The damage is almost never due to the wheel entering the hole, but rather the impact on exit. When a wheel hits a pothole, it drops into the hole and has to roll out of it. The higher up the tire the impact is, the more force there is pushing the tire both up and back. ![]() When a tire roles over irregularities in the road, most of the force exerted on the suspension is directed upward because the bottom of the tire is what touches the road. How much damage do potholes cause to vehicles? Here are the most likely types of damage and their cost. This will help prevent damage to your vehicle. If you can’t avoid a pothole, at least slow down as much as possible and let off the brakes just before falling into it.
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