Which parts are damaged when a car bottoms out?

[LaDeclan]

When a car bottoms out, the following parts can be damaged: Exhaust pipe rupture: The exhaust pipe is very fragile and located at the bottom of the vehicle. Hitting hard objects like rocks or even speed bumps—which are common but vary in height and shape—can cause it to crack. Some speed bumps are higher or wider, and if the driver doesn’t slow down when going over them, the exhaust pipe is likely to rupture. Control arm deformation: A car’s tires are constrained by five angles in space, which affect steering control and torque transmission. When a car bottoms out, the control arm is highly likely to deform, significantly impacting the precise tire alignment parameters. This has a very negative effect on handling safety during high-speed turns, so it’s best to have the four-wheel alignment parameters checked and repaired by a professional after a bottoming incident. Oil pan rupture: If a car bottoms out, the oil pan of the engine or transmission can easily crack, leading to oil leakage. This is the most easily noticeable damage, but it must be repaired promptly; otherwise, the engine could suffer permanent damage. Engine repairs are the most complex and costly in vehicle maintenance, and repairing the engine also disrupts the factory-tuned parameters.