Asides from staring at an actual deer in headlights, potholes are probably the next (and far more common) enemy of drivers in New Zealand. They’re no fun, plain and simple, although they do bring the benefit of giving you an idea just how much shock absorption is build into your car.
It’s pretty hard to avoid these nasty little road holes, although we suggest you stay alert for them. You’re bound to encounter at least one if you’re heading out on a road trip or anywhere there are asphalt roads. Unfortunately, if you have the misfortune of hitting a pothole at the wrong speed, they can really take a toll on a few key car parts.
How do potholes form?
Potholes are caused by the expansion and contraction of water after it has permeated through the ground under the asphalt, basically destablising the foundation and leading to formation of cracks which then develop into pothole.
What car parts can be damaged by potholes?
There are five main car parts that will bear the brunt of a pothole if you hit one.
- Tie rod end
- Control arm
- Stabiliser bar link
- Tyres
- Strut
If this is a foreign language, never fear! We’re here to help. If you just need someone to look at you car’s pothole damage, feel free to slide on over to the My Auto Shop service area and we’ll get you started with a few quotes.
So, what exactly are these car parts, and what are each of their functions?
Tie road ends
The tie road ends are the small ball joints that link your power steering gear to your wheel. Fairly important! If your car undergoes misalignment or broken ball joints from a pothole, it can sometimes result in the ball socket coming loose, in which case, it’ highly unlikely you’ll leave the scene without the help of a tow truck.
Control arms
Control arms keep your wheels in place, working with the suspension to deliver you a smooth ride. Potholes can seriously mess with your control arms, in some cases bending them altogether which can have flow-on effects when it comes to your steering alignment. It might not be an obvious one, but you’ll notice as your tyre treads start to wear out of synch with each other.
Stabiliser bar link
The stabiliser bar links have small ball joints at each end, and range in length from 10cm-30cm. They’re attached to your sway bar and are an extension of your suspension, helping curb off any side-to-side sway while you’re turning.
If you hit a pothole, it’s likely you’ll hear a knocking noise as your car goes over bumps. Hitting a pothole can actually result in your stabiliser bar links snapping, which is going to add a whole new twist and turn to your car’s suspension, and not in a good way.
If things go seriously awry, you could find that the links can float around, jamming your power steering or even puncturing a tyre.
Tyres
You’ll never tire of our segways (or our puns!) but, seriously, it is worth noting that your tyres are the first point of contact with potholes and can undergo a fair bit of trauma if you hit a pothole. This will most likely mean the tyre bursts if there’s significant impact. If it’s really bad, you could also damage your car tyre’s rim, which is a more costly repair job altogether.
Strut
We’re talking car parts here, not going through Mick Jagger’s library of dance moves! In the car world, struts are a vehicle’s main suspension components. If you hit a pothole, the strut will take the full impact of the hit, and in some cases, it may not be able to handle the force.
You could be looking at alignment and steering issues, and suspension that just doesn’t play ball. If this is the case, your safety really depends on getting the issue seen to.
Hit a pothole and need a hand? My Auto Shop can help get you back on the straight and narrow. Head over to the service area and we’ll get you started with a few quotes.