what can be damaged by a pothole?

[byroncheung]

hit a pothole last night, now i'm getting some vibration from the front left (pothole was on the left) when braking hard. constant speed/acceleration driving seems somewhat ok, but at higher speed (> 80 mph) seems to feel some vibration at steering wheels as well.

will go visit a wheel place to check for bents. what else should i watch for? what are the suspension components tends to get compromised by a pothole? or from what the symptoms are, any input on what might be wronged by the pothole?

[amrazM]

Thrust arm bushings and or more likely a bent rim.

[phantasticphan]

It could've thrown your alignment off

[6ixSpd]

Originally Posted by amrazM

Thrust arm bushings and or more likely a bent rim.

This. Vibrations around 80mph in the steering wheel are a textbook symptom of out-of-balance and/or bent wheels.

Originally Posted by phantasticphan

It could've thrown your alignment off

Sure, but that's not causing OP's symptoms.

[GRUESOM3]

I've seen everything from loose fillings in teeth to herniated discs.

[MachinesWithSouls]

Bent wheel. Alignment. Your soul.

[Lt1camaro]

The M3 wheels are pretty durable from my experience. Get them checked out, but most likely either a balance or alignment issue. If not, the only possible conclusion is bent rims.

[Grip Addict]

Originally Posted by 6ixSpd

This. Vibrations around 80mph in the steering wheel are a textbook symptom of out-of-balance and/or bent wheels.

Sure, but that's not causing OP's symptoms.

Also a not flush spacer can cause 80 mph vibrations.

[pbonsalb]

Do the vibrations change under braking? A pothole usually won’t ruin a bushing. It can bend a wheel, unbalance a wheel/tire, throw off an alignment, damage an upper strutbearing. Very rarely, bend a control arm. I’d suspect first a wheel or balance.

[byroncheung]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

Do the vibrations change under braking? A pothole usually won’t ruin a bushing. It can bend a wheel, unbalance a wheel/tire, throw off an alignment, damage an upper strutbearing. Very rarely, bend a control arm. I’d suspect first a wheel or balance.

Yes it feel like a different kind of shakes when braking, almost feel like a warped rotor but pothole shouldn't warp a rotor?

While the vibration at high speed feel more like typical bad wheels / spacers steering wheel shake...

[commedeschatons]

your dignity

[pbonsalb]

If braking changes that is a sign. Braking puts pressure on the suspension. I’d add tie rod to the front strut rod bushings and wheel balance/bent wheel list.

[jasonrp15]

I hit a small speed bump once. Had a quick jolt that kills you a little. Ended up bringing it to the dealership and it bent my control arm.

[Scharbag]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

If braking changes that is a sign. Braking puts pressure on the suspension. I’d add tie rod to the front strut rod bushings and wheel balance/bent wheel list.

It also shifts weight to the front wheels which will exacerbate the effects of a bent front wheel.

BMW wheels are stout, but fairly soft and they will bend. They can be fixed.

[InnerBlueSkies]

Wont account for the symptoms necessarily but Ive had two outcomes in the past, with my previous m3, severe bubbling, expansion of inside tire wall. Another time with a mazdaspeed, bent control arm albeit this was more like a ditch you seen on Northeast US roads after a snow storm.

[pwrdbym]

Very easy to damage a tire. Radial/sidewall can all be damaged by an impact. You may have also just knocked the balance off; wheel weight seperation. Any number of things. Start with the cheapest thing, which is to have the wheel/tire road force balanced. You can ask for the tire to be dismounted and the wheel checked for an extra mount fee, which is minimal.