A couple of days ago I parked one side of my car on the pavement. When I drove off quickly as I was rushing for work, the driver’s side of the vehicle made a very loud bang. I am worried that I may have damaged something. I have visions that a wheel might be going to fall off or something similar! What do you think?
The mechanic says...
First look closely at each wheel and tyre, to see if there is any evidence of damage (a scuffed tyre, or a bent/split wheel, for example). Look underneath the car too, visually inspecting the underbody structure, plus the steering and suspension components (etc.) in case these have contacted the kerb as you drove away. It could be that as the car ‘dropped’ off the kerb, the sudden suspension movement may have allowed the underbody to touch the pavement.
If there is no sign of damage and the car is still driving perfectly, you are probably okay. All the same, for peace of mind it would be worth having the vehicle inspected by tyre specialists, in case any wheel/tyre damage has been sustained. They will also be able to make a visual check of the underbody, while they are checking the wheels and tyres, and should be able to advise on any remedial work that might be necessary.
