It's a safe bet that anywhere you look on the roads, you are sure to find a pothole after this winter. 2020 was sure to end with a surprise, and the brutal winter entering 2021 was the icing on the cake for many! With record-breaking snow in some areas resulting in an unprecedented number of potholes appearing on roads and highways across the country, causing considerable damage and unexpected, costly car owners' repairs.

Drivers know as soon as they hit a pothole that some damage level has occurred to their vehicle. Most drivers will check their tires and wheels visually. Still, potholes can also cause considerable damage to the steering, suspension, and alignment systems that you can't see. When you hit a rough pothole, it's best to give us a call to get an inspection of your vehicle scheduled.

If you hit a pothole while driving, we would like to remind you to watch for the following warning signs and have your vehicle inspected by a professional technician without delay.

• Experiencing the loss of control or swaying when making regular turns or bouncing excessively on rough roads indicates that the steering and suspension may have been damaged. The steering and suspension are critical safety-related systems. Together, they largely determine your car's ride and handling. Key components are shocks and struts, the steering knuckle, ball joints, the steering rack/box, bearings, seals and hub units, and tie rod ends.
• Pulling in one direction, instead of maintaining a straight path, and uneven tire wear. These symptoms mean there's an alignment problem. Proper wheel alignment is essential for the lifespan of tires and helps ensure safe handling.

For more information please call Papillion Foreign Motors at (402) 339-6460.

Our vehicle's suspension system, otherwise known as shocks and struts, is something we often take for granted. Some people believe the suspension is mainly about having a smooth ride. Therefore these repairs aren't as necessary as other maintenance issues like oil changes or brakes. However, having bad suspension can affect your ability to control the vehicle, especially when stopping or turning, so it's in your best interest not to ignore this part of auto repair.

How do you know when it's time for suspension repair? Your vehicle will give you four hints.

• Your Car is Riding Rough:

Most people can tell their shocks or struts are wearing out when they begin to feel every bump in the road or when every bump causes the vehicle body to "bounce." A rough ride is an obvious sign that your vehicle's suspension needs work.

• Drifting or pulling during turns

With a failing suspension system, you'll often feel the vehicle "drift" or "pull" when you're turning. This pulling means the shocks are no longer keeping the vehicle body stable against the centrifugal force of a turn, increasing your risk of a rollover. 

• Dips or "nose dives" when stopping.

When the shocks are worn out, you're likely to feel the vehicle body lurching forward and downward nose-first when you apply the brakes firmly. This dipping will affect your ability to stop the car quickly and is unsafe.

• Uneven tire treads

Take a look at your tires. Suppose you notice the tire tread is wearing down unevenly on your tires. In that case, it is likely caused by poor suspension holding the car unevenly, and therefore putting uneven amounts of pressure on the tires.

For more information please call Papillion Foreign Motors at (402) 339-6460.