MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – This time of year, pothole season is in full swing, leaving drivers on the defensive. With the roads and parking lots thawing out comes the exposed potholes, which can possibly cause damage to vehicles.
With the possible damages that can occur, we asked Keith Barron, owner of Barron’s Auto Repair, how bad can the damage be, and he told us, “Had one last week where the wheel came off. A ball joint busted loose.”
While that was one of the worst cases Barron has seen happen, they are not always so apparent. He added, “A lot of times when you hit a pothole, even on a perfectly functioning vehicle otherwise, nothings lost, nothings damaged, you’re going to bend things.”
Spring is an ideal time to service your vehicle keeping vehicles and fix possible jarring they may have endured over the winter.
Barron said many people barely notice a difference after the impact and he added, “It will slowly knock your car out of alignment every time you hit a pothole.”
When out of alignment, this increases tire wear and can even cause control issues.
For Yoopers, this isn’t anything new and although springtime may be the height of pothole season, it’s always good to remember to use caution when trying to avoid them.