Will the chassis be damaged if the car drives over rocks?
3 Answers
Generally, the chassis will not be damaged when a car drives over rocks. Here is the relevant content introduction: 1. Chassis: The chassis refers to the combination of the transmission system, running system, steering system, and braking system on a car. It supports and installs the car engine and its various components and assemblies, forming the overall shape of the car, bearing the engine power, and ensuring normal driving. 2. Function: The function of the chassis is to support and install the car engine and its various components and assemblies, forming the overall shape of the car, and receiving the power of the engine to make the car move and ensure normal driving.
Last time I was driving and didn’t see the road clearly, the chassis scraped against a rock with a loud clunk, so I quickly pulled over to check. Actually, most chassis have protective plates, so a scrape usually won’t directly damage critical components—the key is to assess how severe the impact was. If you hear a metallic tearing sound from areas like the fuel tank, engine oil pan, or exhaust pipe, you must stop and call a tow truck. In common undercarriage scrapes, most of the time it’s just the plastic mudguard getting scratched or the metal protective plate dented. It’s recommended to use your phone to take a video by reaching into the chassis gaps when you get home, paying special attention to any signs of fluid leakage.
As a frequent visitor to auto repair shops, I totally understand your concern. Technically speaking, there are three key factors for chassis damage: impact location, vehicle speed, and stone shape. Hitting a sharp stone at speeds over 30 km/h could puncture the transmission housing, whereas slowly passing over a smooth stone might not even scratch the underbody protection. I strongly recommend doing three things immediately: find level ground to check for fresh oil stains, listen for abnormal noises from the chassis after starting the engine, and test for steering hesitation at low speeds. The most concealed damage I've seen was a bent steering tie rod - it made the steering wheel vibrate noticeably.
