Striking a curb with your vehicle can cause damage to various components that don’t actually come into physical contact with the curb. These components work in synchronicity to allow you to steer your vehicle and provide a more comfortable and safer ride.

When your tire or rim strikes a curb with sudden force, it sends a shock wave through the system and can result in your vehicle becoming unsafe to drive or completely inoperable. Therefore, it’s important to have your vehicle checked by a qualified mechanic after hitting a curb, even if there is no visible damage. Here are a few of the possible repercussions of a curb strike.

Tire or Rim Damage
Tire damage can include an actual laceration of the sidewall of the tire, which is more readily apparent because of the likelihood of the tire going flat immediately after the event. The sidewall of a tire is much thinner than the treads – often only one quarter inch thick.

However, the valve stem, which is used to inflate the tire and protrudes from the side, may also become damaged. This leads to a slow and persistent leak and an unexpected flat tire the morning after the strike.

A bent wheel rim can also cause a tire to leak, either immediately or slowly, because it can no longer provide the proper seal. Bent rims can often be repaired. However, depending upon the severity of the damage, they may need to be replaced.

Wheel Misalignment
This is a common hazard associated with a curb strike. When your wheel hits a curb, the force will cause the wheel to face in a different direction than the other wheels. This is especially troublesome and dangerous in the front steering wheels, which are the primary victims of curb strikes.

When your front wheels are out of alignment, your vehicle is more difficult to steer. In addition, because the wheels are continuously competing for dominance, your front tires face greater friction with the surface of the road. This leads to increased gas mileage as well as premature tire wear – in addition to the immediate safety concerns.

A particularly vicious strike can leave one wheel visibly out of alignment, rendering the vehicle inoperable. However, many wheel misalignments are imperceptible to the eye and require a skilled service mechanic to diagnose and repair the problem.

Steering and Suspension Damage
The steering and suspension components in your vehicle work interdependently to provide a safe and comfortable driving experience. When one or more of these parts is damaged by a curb strike, your ability to drive safely is compromised.

For example, your vehicle’s tie rods provide a link between the wheels and the steering mechanism. The springs absorb the shock of uneven road surfaces, and the struts prevent the vehicle from bouncing uncontrollably from the actions of the springs through hydraulic pressure that stabilizes the vehicle.
Tie rods are designed to accommodate the movements of the struts and springs through their ability to pivot in all directions. However, a sudden and violent curb strike can cause tie rods to become bent and ineffectual, which leads to inconsistent steering ability and excessive tire wear.

If a strut is damaged, it will no longer be able to mitigate the bouncing of the corresponding spring. This can also lead to subsequent tie rod damage as well as loss of control through excessive bouncing when driving on a rough patch of road.

Any of these issues could pose an immediate or future problem for you and your vehicle. That’s why it’s important to watch your speed, especially on curves in the road and during inclement weather.
It just as important to have a trusted and experienced repair facility to inspect your vehicle after a particularly nasty curb strike. If you’re in the San Rafael, CA, area, then take your vehicle to Neuhaus Service, Inc. after your battle with a local curb. We’d be happy to take a look.