munis

Recently a new highway near my home has been recarpeted. So while coming back home around midnight, I was quite relaxed on the drive back home, which I am never if I know the road has potholes in them, but considering the recarpeting that was done literally two weeks ago, I leaned back a little and BOOM. It felt like my driver front wheel has exploded. The rear driver side wheel for some reason did not crash as badly my front did. My dash cam started alarming that it recorded an impact event, I quickly went to my Tire Pressure Menu and everything by the looks of it seems fine, except I now have a vibration at anything over 120kmph. After stopping, I found no bubbles anywhere, the tires are brand new, and it does not look like I dropped a wheel weight. Steering wheel points perfectly straight considering I got alignment done recently. No pull, no other symptoms

I later went to check out what the hell did I hit the day later and it seems there a crater sized pothole has developed in the middle of the highway. And the width is just the size of my fronts, so may be my rears got saved by an inch on either side. Looking at the depth of the pothole though, I can't comprehend how .my suspension is still in one piece. So I am just wondering what are the things I should check for?

I guess the vibration is coming from a bent rim, I will have them checked out for bend coming Saturday. If that fixes it, then amazing, if not, no idea where to start the diagnosis from. How likely is it that I damaged a suspension component? So far I cannot hear any other noise which might tell me that something is wrong.

pl626

It's very likely you have front-end suspension damage. Years ago, during a winter thaw, I hit a patch of potholes with my W211 w/ sport package. I was going less than 35MPH, but I managed to crack 3 rims, and bend a tie rod. Between replacing the wheels and repairing the front-end suspension, my insurance co. was out over $5k. With low profile tires and alloys, you don't have to go too fast to sustain serious damage. That was the reason I went back to driving my old Range Rover during the winter. No skinny tires and no fears of potholes, just fears of something else failing and leaving me stranded...

Dalle1985

Try having the wheel rebalanced first. Even though there is no visible damage, the rim might have gotten a proper beating and need straightening. I once drove over a piece of a brake disc from a truck, the front wheel hit it while it was on its side, but it most likely flipped up, hit the rear wheel catapulting that corner of the car about 10-15 cm into the air (felt like a meter) and tore a 5 cm gash in my COMPLETELY new tire. got it towed and the tire replaced and everything seemed fine until I got on a motorway at around 160 kph (I live close to Germany) and the car started shaking like it was trying to throw off a wheel. Turned out the rim had become slightly oval from the impact, and this would only show up at certain speeds. I got the rim straightened but it never really became perfect again.

Malar

I can't help you, all i want to say is that i felt that Pain reading that and i'm sorry, i'd probably pulled a fuming-karen-move on the construction company refacing the street

munis

Did it never become the same again because the rim was not straight again? Or you think you damaged something else?

alexasa

iTrader: (1)

suspension seems very strong on these cars. i hit a pothole in my old car and blew two tires out (rims were fine because rotary forged) but no damage to suspension.

i've also been ran off the road in the current car and there was no damage in the instance either. had to dive into the grass a bit and filled the rim w/ dirt cause it was wet out

Dalle1985

Nope, it became tolerable - but the following season I ended up scrapping the rims (I couldn't buy a single rim anywhere) and buy fresh ones. There was no damage to the suspension as it rode perfectly on the winter rims which were the same size - but not crooked

munis

Yes I think so too. The suspension so far has held up really well. I think it is just the rim that bent. Will get it fixed and check for alignment. Thanks man!

evoi19

Like others have said, suspension is probably ok, doesn't hurt to check but it takes alot to damage the suspension. The wheel will take the most impact at the end of the day. You'll know if you damaged the suspension. It'll either sag in that corner or you'll hear noises. Check alignment also, your camber/toe may be off.

Tirgoman

Based on the minimal wheel damage and no tire damage I doubt there is any suspension damage. Suspension parts are tough. Have your dealer get it up on a rack to check things out if that'll make you feel better.