Believe it or not, hitting a pothole hard enough can also cause body or frame damage. We have seen tweaked or scraped frames resulting from hitting a pothole before.
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.
Frame Alignment A serious auto accident can bend or damage the frame of your vehicle. If frame damage isn't repaired, it can cause poor handling, as well as premature wear on the steering system and tires. Your vehicle may even drift to one side or shake during driving.
Although it will take longer to rear its ugly head, strange, abnormal, or uneven tire wear can be a sign of frame damage. Vehicle tracks on the diagonal. If you notice the rear wheels don't follow in line with the front wheels when traveling straight, it can indicate a bent frame.
Signs of pothole damage
Bottoming out, excessive bouncing and loss of control – all indications of steering and suspension issues. Crooked steering wheel – indication of bent steering components. Pulling to one side and uneven tire wear – signs of alignment problems.
You can pay to have the frame repaired, but even still your car likely won't ever be as safe as it was in its original condition. Sometimes it's best just to junk the car, sell it for parts, or sell it to someone who is willing to take the risk.
You can drive a vehicle with a bent frame if the vehicle is still aligned well and it will drive in a straight line, but at your own risk. If you're in another collision with a bent frame much of the vehicle's strength could be compromised.
If you start to notice vibrations on one side of your vehicle, or if you notice that the shocks need to be worn down on a certain side of your car, it's possible that a bent frame is the root of the problem.
Depending on the original extent of damage to your vehicle, your mechanic should be able to straighten your damaged car frame. The use of ultrasound equipment makes diagnosing the extent of damage much easier than before.
What is frame damage? The term “frame damage” can refer to any damage to parts of the vehicle intended to support the vehicle's structural integrity. This damage is typically caused by outside forces, such as collisions or disrepair.
A simple bent fender or other minor bends can cost between $600 and $1,000 to repair. If the damage is severe enough, the frame damage repair cost can reach $10,000 if extensive repairs are required.
Struts largely affect alignment, so if your struts take damage from braking over a pothole, there's a chance that your alignment has been thrown off, too. After hitting a pothole, be on the lookout for any signs you may need new shocks or struts, such as unusual sounds or jerky driving.
If a car goes over a pothole at a very high speed, it leads to very noticeable damage to the wheel, which can be spotted by doing a visual inspection. Other times one can find a change in the driving feel, vibrations in the steering wheel, a different car handling altogether.
When your car hits a pothole at high speeds, the axle shaft can get bent or damaged. This is seen most often in vehicles with live axles.
In extreme cases, hitting a curb can cause structural damage to the vehicle's frame. When driving, the car may veer off course and make rattling noises when turning.
In terms of what to do in a remote location if you do suffer a bent chassis, here are a few options. Speaking of insurance, are bent chassis covered by insurers? Most of the time, they're not.
A bent frame can cause problems with your car's alignment. If you are driving and notice that your car is pulling to one side, your alignment may be off. If you have the alignment fixed and it starts pulling again, a bent frame is likely to blame. Wheels frequently won't track properly with a bent frame, either.
Average Cost to Replace a Door Frame
Homeowners generally pay between $170 and $400. Replacing a basic door frame costs as little as $90, including the labor and frame price, or as high as $930 for larger, heavier door styles. The cost could go higher if additional repairs are needed before installation.
It is possible to fix a damaged frame. This type of repair is best completed at a reputable auto body shop, by an experienced mechanic, with the correct tools and technology. These shops use computerized framing machines, which can return the frame to factory specifications using hydraulics and torque.
Wheel Misalignment
A bent frame can completely change wheel alignment in addition to changing wheel tracking. You'll notice a variety of handling issues if your wheels are out of alignment, such as the steering wheel veering to one side or the car easily drifting off course.
2) If you notice that the car isn't steering straight, have your auto repair shop check the steering and suspension before performing a wheel alignment. Sometimes these can be damaged when you hit a pothole. Car wheel alignments are completed after repairs to steering or suspension (if they are needed).
One of the most common and frustrating issues even for safe drivers is pothole tire damage. Depending on the impact, it can cause the sidewall to blow because of the sudden shift of air in the tire. You should avoid squeezing it since it can cause a tire puncture and flat tire.
Sidewall damage is the most common tire problem after a pothole impact. This indicates the pothole pinched the car's tire against the wheel. Your tire may also be losing air or totally flat. You'll need to change that tire before continuing onward.