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Do Speed Bumps Damage Cars? What You Need to Know!

Do Speed Bumps Damage Cars

Speed bumps are designed and built for the safety of the pedestrians and other drivers. They are installed to slow down the speed of the vehicles. You usually see them in areas like schools, parking lots, or playgrounds. Areas that are deemed unsafe for pedestrians when cars run aggressively or at high speeds. Speed bumps keep pedestrians safe and greatly lessen the chance of an accident or a fatal incident. Although speed bumps are made to discourage drivers from driving too fast, sometimes drivers don’t notice these speed bumps and charge into it at full speed. When this happens, do speed bumps damage cars? Speed bumps are harmless to pedestrians but it can be damaging to your cars if you are not careful. It can cause damages on your tires, suspensions, the vehicle’s steering, exhaust, and a lot more.

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Keep in mind that speed bumps are there to encourage drivers to reduce their speed and you need to do just that. Doing otherwise can cause an alarm as your car bumps, shakes, or jolt driving over them and will get you asking “do speed bumps damage cars?”. 

 

Do Speed Bumps Damage Cars? – Can hitting a speed bump fast damage a car?

 


Many are concerned about driving over speed bumps at high speeds and are asking “do speed bumps damage cars?”. Although you know that you are supposed to reduce your speed when you see a speed bump, accidents could happen. You might be driving one night and you fail to notice a speed bump and accidentally pass over it without slowing down. 

 

To answer the question, do speed bumps damage cars? Yes, they do! But not only when you hit the speed bump or pass over it at high speed. Driving over it at the wrong angle can also cause serious damage to your car and in some cases, driving over a poorly designed one can also result in your car being damaged no matter what the driver’s speed is. These problems can usually happen when you have a car with a low ground clearance.  

 

So how can speed bumps damage your car? What damages can it make to your car? Here are some of the car’s parts or components that can be severely damaged when you hit a speed bump at high speed.

  • Tires.

 

When you drive over speed bumps slowly and properly, it will not cause harm to your car or your tires. But if you don’t notice the speed bump in time or when you go too fast and hurtles into it, then it might cause serious damage to your tires.  

 

Although the speed bumps are just there doing what it’s supposed to do, it can be damaging to your tires. It is caused by the impact of your car hitting the ground after going too fast over the speed bumps. The speed bumps are about three to four inches high and although it might not seem that high but it can make your car airborne for a bit if you hit them fast enough. 

 

When this happens and your car slams and lands back on the road, the tires’ sides are driven into the road and when the tires’ sidewalls come in contact with the road, the tires will be at risk for a blowout or a tire damage. The damage cannot be prevented when the tires are beating up the wheel rim with extreme force when your car hits the speed bump at a high speed. 

 

To prevent damaging your tires when you pass over a speed bump, you need to do what the speed bumps want you to do – slow down! It is designed to tell drivers that they have to reduce their speed. If you do just that, your car will be safe and unharmed. The ideal speed when you drive over a speed bump is about 5 mph and you should not go any faster than that. Any speed that is faster than that can cause damage not just to your tires but other parts of your car as well. 

  • Shock absorbers.

 

The car’s shock absorbers give support to the suspension springs. They are the ones that make the ride less bumpy and more smooth since they absorb the imperfections of the road. The shocks support the car’s weight and are regulators coils that respond to the road changes you encounter while driving. It is the reason why you don’t feel the dips and bumps your car drives over. 

 

Although shock absorbers ensure that you will have a smooth ride, there is only so much shock these absorbers can take. When you speed up over a speed bump, the shock absorbers will have a hard time doing their job since it can happen quickly. It won’t be able to absorb the energy that fast. This can cause damage to your shocks such as leaking hydraulic fluid or bending out of shape. 

 

If you drive too fast over a speed bump, your tires can compress and stretch in ways they’re not supposed to and when they slam down back to the ground, your struts and shocks will take the impact of the blow. The damage you can get depends on your car’s weight, the impact issue speed, and the shock’s reaction time to absorb the energy. It is not really about the size of the speed bumps. 

 

If you keep on speeding while driving over speed bumps, you will surely know the answer to the question “do speed bumps damage cars?”. You will pretty soon find out if it does. Your shocks will soon begin to break down and it won’t be able to protect your car. When it happens, your tire might lose contact with the road through quick stops and you won’t be able to control it if your car goes flying over the bump. Bad suspension can make your car become less safe to drive since healthy shock absorbers or a working suspension system improves your car’s handling. 

 

  • Steering.

 

When the shocks of your car have been compromised or damaged, it can take a toll on the car’s other components as well. The shocks are the ones that protect your car from the imperfections of the road. Without properly-working shocks, your car’s steering components will be severely shaken when you are driving. Constant vibrations and shaking can cause your power steering system to develop issues.

 

It is important that you reduce your speed when driving over a speed bump since it can also affect the steering of your car and cause it to go out of line. You might notice your vehicle pull to one direction while driving after hitting a speed bump. To correct the issue, you will have to get your car checked since it will need some realigning.

 

Hitting a speed bump can damage your car. It can cause leaks in the power steering system, misalign your wheels, damage your steering rack mounts, steering column and axle components, and it can also affect your braking system due to the poor shocks. 

 

You will know that your steering has been compromised when you begin to notice some changes like your wheels feeling loose when rounding turns and it becomes less responsive. You might also experience a pull to one direction that will get worse if you are driving over bumps or potholes, you notice that your steering wheel turns right or left on its own when you remove your hand, or you will notice that your tire wear is uneven.

 

When you experience these changes or symptoms after hitting a speed bump, it is important that you have your car checked immediately to avoid more serious problems that could become too expensive to fix. 

 

  • Exhaust system.

 

Your car’s exhaust system is positioned directly under your car. If you hit a speed bump or drive over it a little too fast, it could receive a direct knock that can cause it to become damaged. It is usually the one that is more prone to being hit when you drive over a speed bump since it is one of the lowest parts of your car.  

 

The exhaust system is installed underneath the car so it can serve its purpose to quiet a car or control its noise and to control the emissions as well. It is the one that makes the cars more efficient and more friendly to the environment by reducing air pollutants. Although the exhaust system is installed in such a way that it should be able to withstand the normal shake and bang that can be encountered at times during driving, the said ability can be reduced when your shock absorbers are faulty.

 

Hitting or driving over a speed bump at high speed can damage your exhaust system especially if your car bounces off the road. It can hit the road when you land and slam it. It can result in a damage that can hinder the exhaust system’s ability to do what it’s supposed to do. The mounts can become damaged and break and when it breaks, it can no longer be roadworthy. You will have to fix it or pay fines due to emission issues. A problem like this is usually common on vehicles that have low ground clearance. 

 

Do Speed Bumps Damage Cars? –  How do you drive over speed bumps smoothly?   

 

Now you know the answer to the question “do speed bumps damage cars?”. It can damage your car and it does in a lot of ways. Now you might want to know how to drive over a speed bump without damaging your car. 

 

You have probably seen other drivers try a lot of ways to minimize the impact or avoid damages when driving over a speed bump. You might have seen some who have driven too slow, some on the diagonal, and some who u-turned instead to look for another way just to avoid driving over the speed bump. But is there really a correct way to drive or pass over a speed bump? 

 

One thing you can do right is to drive over the speed bumps slowly. That’s what speed bumps are for, right? It is placed there so drivers can reduce their vehicles’ speed. If you drive over the speed bumps slowly, you will be able to keep your tires, shock absorbers, steering, exhaust system, and even your paint from any damage. 

 

Drive slowly. The ideal speed is about 5 mph or less. Most cars that have encountered damages from driving over speed bumps are due to driving too fast over them. It is not worth it to pay for your car’s damaged components repairs just because you drove over a speed way too fast when it is something that you can control. If you did not notice a speed bump while you were driving, it’s okay but make sure that it will not happen again. Be cautious all the time for the sake of your car and the safety of the road. 

 

Driving over the speed bumps slowly is much better than driving over it at an angle. The best way to drive over a speed bump smoothly is by accelerating moderately. Don’t apply the brakes when you are going over the bump. Doing so lowers the front end of your car and you don’t want that to happen. You need to reduce your speed, slow down and release the brake before the bump, and when you are on the top of the bump, accelerate. It will also be better if your car is straight while driving over the speed bump.   

 

Do Speed Bumps Damage Cars? – Final Word

 

Do speed bumps damage cars? Now you know that it does. If you accidentally hit a speed bump and you feel your car bounce as it slams down on the road, it is best that you have it inspected. It is important for you to find out if it has caused your car any issues or any missing parts so you can correct it right away.  

 

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