The effect speedbumps can have on your vehicle

Most motorists have had to deal with speedbumps at one time or another. Authorities have installed them in specific places to slow traffic down to less than 60 km/hour. ¹ This applies especially to suburbs where children and dogs will frequent the streets. ¹ That is only one aspect of speedbumps – the other is that they can damage your car. Can they impact your suspension and wheel alignment? ¹ Read on and find out more.¹

It all depends on how you drive

How do you approach a speedbump? Some drivers don’t seem to care when they shoot over speedbumps too fast. ¹ They don’t realise they can severely damage their cars’ suspension. ¹ It’s like hitting every part of the suspension with a hammer. ¹ Not only can damage occur with a once-off incident of flying over a speedbump, but it could become even worse is if a motorist does this regularly. ¹ Certainly, manufacturers have designed a car’s suspension to take specific knocks but not on a scale that some drivers manage to achieve with speedbumps. ¹

What about the design of the speedbump?

If badly designed, speedbumps can also damage a vehicle, irrespective of the speed used by the driver. ¹ Cars with low ground clearance should make a real point of slowing down, or even approach the hump at an angle. ¹

Let’s find out how flying over speedbumps can damage your car. ¹

1. Damaging the steering

Shock absorbers past their lifespan will cause the remainder of the car to pay the price. ¹ Because of the lack of support from the shock absorbers, continuous road vibrations can cause leaks in the power steering column, affect the wheel alignment, and damage steering rack mounts. ¹ Driving fast over a speedbump can particularly damage the sensitive components. ¹

2. Destroying shock absorbers

Shock absorbers absorb most of the bumps in the road, making the journey so comfortable. ¹ They can only handle so much – hitting a pothole or racing over a speedbump is too extreme. ¹ The shock absorbers begin to leak with continued battering and eventually stop protecting your car. Without functioning shock absorbers, you’ll lose control of your car. ¹

3. Wrecking tyres

Manufacturers have designed tyres so that only the flat section contacts the road surface and not the sidewalls. ¹ Going fast over a speedbump means that the tyres’ sidewalls could also touch the road surface while the tyres come crashing down. ¹ This can affect the tyres’ structural integrity and even cause a blowout. ¹

4. Hitting the exhaust system on the speedbump

The exhaust system hangs from rubber mounts that could break through rough landings after negotiating speedbumps too fast. ¹

 

So what is the solution?

Travel slowly and defensively. ¹ Most drivers are not facing an emergency or need to catch a flight. ¹ Treating your car with respect will ensure many years of comfortable driving. ¹

Disclaimer

Car insurance is not straightforward, and that’s why this article can only provide information at best. Consult a certified financial advisor for professional advice before you purchase any car insurance product.

Besides protecting your car by driving slowly and carefully, you can also safeguard it by buying adequate insurance. Contact PMD, who can provide you with information on their affordable car insurance products.

Source:

¹https://www.sunautoservice.com/do-speed-bumps-ruin-your-alignment/

Disclaimer:

This article was prepared by Eric Sandmann in his personal capacity. The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not reflect the views and opinions of Prime Meridian Direct (Pty) Ltd, FSP41040 (car insurance and life cover products). The views and opinions in the article should not be attributed to anyone but the author unless expressly stated. Nothing in this article should be relied upon as advice, this publication is presented for informational purposes only. No person should act or refrain from acting in reliance on any information found in this article, without first obtaining proper financial advice from the appropriate professional. The author makes no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, or completeness, of any information linked from, referred to, or contained in this article. The author reserves the right, to edit and change the content of this article.