Cape Town roads are notorious. A trip from Mitchells Plain to the CBD or a drive through Voortrekker Road in Maitland feels like an obstacle course. Every pothole you hit is damaging your car. Here's exactly what's getting broken.
Suspension Damage
Your shock absorbers, struts, ball joints and control arm bushings take a direct hit every time you slam into a pothole. Over time this causes premature wear. Signs your suspension is damaged:
- Car bounces more than usual over bumps
- Knocking or clunking sounds from the wheels
- Uneven tyre wear
- Car pulls to one side when driving straight
Wheel Alignment Goes Out
One big pothole is often enough to knock your wheel alignment out. This causes your tyres to wear unevenly — sometimes wearing through the inside edge in just a few months. A R300 alignment check can save you R2,000+ in new tyres.
Wheel Rim Damage
Hit a pothole hard enough and you can bend or crack your wheel rim. Alloy wheels are especially vulnerable. A bent rim causes vibration at high speeds and sometimes can't be repaired.
Tyre Sidewall Damage
A sharp pothole edge can cut or bulge your tyre sidewall. A bulging tyre is a time bomb — it can blow out at speed. If you see a bubble or bulge on your tyre wall after hitting a pothole, replace it immediately.
How to Avoid the Worst Damage
- Keep your tyre pressure correct — under-inflated tyres absorb more pothole damage
- Slow down in potholed areas — speed multiplies the damage
- Don't brake during the impact — it increases damage. Brake before and release
- If you hit a bad one, get your suspension checked
Hit a pothole recently? We do mobile suspension checks in your driveway. Catch damage before it becomes expensive.
Book Suspension Check →📍 Areas We Cover For This Job
We do this at your home, office or roadside anywhere across the Western Cape. Core coverage (fastest response, from R450 call-out) is Blouberg, Bloubergstrand, Parklands, Table View, Milnerton, Sandown, Sunningdale & Flamingo Vlei. We also regularly service Bellville, Parow, Goodwood, Century City, Durbanville, Brackenfell, Cape Town CBD, Sea Point and further out to Stellenbosch, Somerset West, Strand, Paarl & Wellington.
See the full list of areas we serve, with call-out fees by zone →