Hitting a kerb

discoveranother

Drove my car over a high kerb and both driver wheels went over it with an almighty thud at about 20mph. I was actually blinded by the sunlight as I turned right (no I wasn't drunk !) fortunately no damage done.

But just wondered what sort of underlying damage doing such a thing could cause.

Thanks for any response, next time I'll wear sunglasses and use my visor.

jay1976

I did this a while back and one of the front springs went, and it was not moveable as a result. Its times like this im greatful for the breakdown service and the savings made on MSE . Anyway if it drives ok, no rumbles or noise it may knock your tracking out.

Its proberly best to get your local garage to look it over on the ramp, just to put your mind at rest.

LudaMusser

Next time your out in your car and driving in a straight line see if the steering is pulling to either side. If it is, and I would be very surprised if it is`nt, you`ll need to get your tracking alligned. It will be around £30, they might be able to have a general look underneath the car at the same time

forgotmyname

Engine/Gearbox, Subframe mounts could have been damaged but more importantly suspension and steering joints

You dont want any of those to fail, Especially at speed.

Clipped a kerb in the snow many moons ago, Few weeks later as i turned right the tyre squealed, Though must
have been going a bit quick, Turned left at the next corner and the bottom balljoint collapsed, Wheel folded
under the car. Luckily i was moving out slowly. RAC guy said i was lucky, If i had been doing 30 it could
have been a lot worse.

I took an interest in cars then. Taught myself how to check and fix everything.

missile

I would suggest the structure of the tyres may have been damaged. Damage may not be apparent but if the cords are damaged the tyre could blow out at speed.

http://www.pistonheads.com/doc.asp?c=109&i=7304

atrixblue.-MFR-.

a fool hit a kerb in his civic while txting on his phone and trying to turn into my street (was behind him) i knew he was going to hit kerb and thank god kids werent there he would of smashed through them, he thought his car was fine when he got out and checked it, but a few days later he turned into the street and his wishbone snapped sending his tyre into the arch pulling his driveshaft out and snapping the suspension arm, only thing stopping it coming off completely was the steering arm made a mess of his arch though. i would have all the joints checked on the ramp and maybe examine the tyre/wheels.

missile

... and maybe examine the tyre/wheels.

Unfortunately the damage may not be visible. Depending on how severe the impact, I would replace the tyres. Tyres are expensive but not as costly as a blow out at speed.

roddydogs

If you bough a second hand car, how would you know if the tyres had been "Kerbed"?, so really you should replace the Tyres?

Strider590

I clipped a kerb yesterday coming off a traffic island, similar thing, the sunlight reflection from the vehicle in front, took me by surprise, I had to quickly guestimate where I had to turn and I ran the wheels over a low kerb.
I was actually really annoyed, because i've never done that before!

A good tip is to park your car up against a nice high kerb so that the wheel is touching, then VERY lightly turn the steering from side to side with one or two fingers (only a little bit), if you feel any clunkiness then something is probably loose and you need to get it looked at.
For those less mechanically minded, this is a quick substitute for jacking the car up and grabbing/twisting each road wheel.

discoveranother

Thanks guys alot of good responses there. Had the steering aligned and it steering seems fine but I have also booked it into a garage to check it over.

Just another quick question if I may. There are a few scratches on the driver side bodywork from the impact as it seems I clipped a bollard as well which was on the kerb. Just scratched no dents. Any ideas on roughly what cost of minor bodywork repair is to clean up the scratches.

Thanks

atrixblue.-MFR-.

discoveranother wrote: »

Thanks guys alot of good responses there. Had the steering aligned and it steering seems fine but I have also booked it into a garage to check it over.

Just another quick question if I may. There are a few scratches on the driver side bodywork from the impact as it seems I clipped a bollard as well which was on the kerb. Just scratched no dents. Any ideas on roughly what cost of minor bodywork repair is to clean up the scratches.

Thanks

depending on lengh and depth of the scratch, if its deep, (run your thumb nail over it, if you thumb nail goes in quite a bit the metal is damaged requiring some filling (just painting it would show the scratch under the new paint (weather proof it for now with some turtle wax so the metal dont rust) basing a guestimate on the whole panel being painted about 120-200 pounds. unless you can get a photo put up its pure guess work im affraid