Is it serious if the right rear wheel sinks and hits the suspension?
2 Answers
It depends on the extent of the suspension damage. If it's just a minor impact, there won't be much effect. However, if the damage is severe, it's necessary to get it repaired promptly at a local repair shop. To ensure driving safety, it's recommended to have it inspected at a repair shop as soon as possible. The suspension is the general term for all the force-transmitting connection devices between the car's frame (or load-bearing body) and the axle (or wheels). Its function is to transmit forces and torque between the wheels and the frame, cushion the impact from uneven road surfaces to the frame or body, and reduce the resulting vibrations to ensure smooth driving. A typical suspension structure consists of elastic elements, guiding mechanisms, and shock absorbers, with some structures also including buffer blocks and anti-roll bars. Elastic elements include leaf springs, air springs, coil springs, and torsion bar springs, among others. Modern car suspensions mostly use coil springs and torsion bar springs, while some high-end cars use air springs. The shock absorber is the main component that generates damping force, quickly attenuating the car's vibrations, improving ride comfort, and enhancing the adhesion between the wheels and the ground. Additionally, shock absorbers can reduce the dynamic load on the body, extending the car's lifespan. Currently, the most widely used shock absorbers in cars are hydraulic shock absorbers, which can be divided into twin-tube, mono-tube gas-charged, and twin-tube gas-charged types.
When encountering the right rear wheel sinking and hitting the suspension, this should not be taken lightly. I remember last year when I was driving back to my hometown, a sharp turn caused the wheel to sink into a pothole, and the suspension made a 'thud' sound. My heart was in my throat at that moment, fearing something major had happened. Such impacts can easily damage the springs or shock absorbers, leading to wheel misalignment or unstable body sway while driving. The key is to stop immediately and inspect, checking if the tire is tilted and feeling whether the suspension area is heating up. If everything seems fine and the car drives normally, it might just be a minor issue, but it's best to have a professional shop take a closer look. I've experienced a similar situation before—delaying action later cost me a full suspension system replacement, setting me back a few thousand bucks. Safety first, don't risk driving on, lest you regret an accident later.
