How Potholes Can Ruin More than Just Your Wheels
If a driver in the Turks and Caicos could find a magic genie to grant one wish for a smoother driving experience, at least a few would wish for roads without potholes. Not only are they just annoying, but potholes can cause extensive damage to a vehicle—even off-road models such as Land Rover Defenders. Here’s why you should do your best to avoid potholes wherever you are driving.
Tire damage
Usually, most small road imperfections are absorbed by the tires and the suspension of your vehicle. That’s why driving normally feels rather smooth, until you hit a large pothole. In a fraction of a second, the tire hangs in the air, drops into the pothole, then aggressively smashes and compresses against the edge of the pothole.
While you may be lucky and have no permanent damage, pinching the tire may result in a flat or a bulge on the sidewall. Even though a bulge won’t release pressure, the tire is no longer viable for prolonged use and needs replacing. Even large tires for off-road vehicles may get pinched on large holes.
Steering knocked out of alignment
Hitting a pothole hard can also cause damage further up from the wheel, into the suspension. Steering tie rods take the blunt of heavy shocks and are usually the first component of the steering system to give in. Tie rods keep the connection between your steering wheel input and the wheels.
Damage to the tire rods will throw the steering out of alignment, causing stability problems as well as uneven tire wear. Vibrations of the steering wheels are also a common sign of tie rod damage, sometimes as a result of hitting deep potholes at high speed.
Bottoming out
Some potholes are wide enough that you may have the misfortune of hitting them with both the left and the right wheel at the same time. When this happens, there is an increased risk of bottoming out and scraping the undercarriage against the asphalt.
While 4×4 Land Rover Defenders have undercarriage protections, there are still some exposed components, such as the exhaust, that can be prone to damage. In smaller vehicles, the oil pan, fuel lines and fuel tank are exposed and could get damaged when hitting a large pothole.
Dealing with potholes
The best way to save yourself from pothole damage is to simply avoid them. Check the road ahead for any signs indicating dangers or construction. Drive around the potholes to the best of your ability. If it is not possible to go around a pothole, make sure to drive as slowly as possible, ensuring the car doesn’t dive nose-first and scrape the front bumper.
If a pothole catches you by surprise, release the gas and grab the steering wheel tightly. Avoid hitting the brakes, as this may lock the wheels and cause loss of control.
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What to do if you suspect pothole damage
Keeping your car in top shape is a must, especially for off-road adventures in the Turks and Caicos. At TC Defenders, we offer professional mechanical assistance to diagnose and repair issues with your vehicle—including damage from hitting potholes. Get in touch or visit us at our shop in the Industrial Park on Providenciales to see how we can help.