# Pothole Season: What a Hard Hit Does to Lotus Suspension, and What to Check

Frost and rain open up potholes through the winter. What a hard strike can do to a Lotus's wheels, wishbones and geometry, and how to check after one.

Source: https://lotustrails.com/blog/2026-11-03-pothole-season-suspension-checks/

Potholes appear when water gets into cracks in the road surface, freezes, expands and breaks the surface apart. Winter brings more of them, and the low light makes them harder to see. A light car on stiff suspension and low-profile tyres feels every one, and a hard strike can do damage that is not obvious from the driver's seat.

## Why a Lotus feels it more

The [Elise](/models/elise-s2/), [Exige](/models/exige-s2/) and their successors use double wishbone suspension at each corner, with firm springs and dampers and not much sidewall on the tyres. That is a large part of why they steer so well. It also means a sharp edge sends more of the impact into the wheel, the wishbones and their mounting points, rather than being soaked up by soft rubber.

The rear toe-links deserve particular attention. They control the rear wheels' steering angle, and our [known issues guide](/guides/recalls-and-known-issues/) already lists their joints as a wear item. A heavy hit can bend a link or damage a joint, and a change in rear toe makes the car less stable.

## Signs that something has moved

After a hard strike, stop somewhere safe and look, then pay attention over the next few drives:

- **The steering wheel is no longer straight** when the car is going straight ahead.
- **The car pulls** to one side, or feels nervous at the rear over bumps.
- **New knocks or clunks** over rough roads, which can point to a damaged joint or bush.
- **A bulge or cut in the tyre sidewall.** A bulge means the internal structure is damaged. Replace the tyre rather than drive on it.
- **A dent or crack in the wheel rim**, or a slow loss of pressure from that wheel.
- **Uneven tyre wear** in the weeks afterwards, especially on the inside edge.

## What to do about it

If anything above shows up, have the car put on a lift. A specialist will look at the wishbones, the toe-links, the wheel bearings and the pick-up points on the chassis. Our [buying guide](/guides/buying-a-used-lotus/) points out that a hard kerb strike shows at the wishbone mounts, and a pothole can do the same.

Then have the geometry checked. A Lotus is sensitive to small changes in toe and camber, so ask a garage that knows the cars and can set it to the factory road settings or your chosen fast-road setting.

## Reporting the pothole

In the UK, you can [report a pothole through GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/report-pothole), which directs you to the local council, or to National Highways for motorways and the A roads it manages. If your car is damaged, photograph the pothole and the damage, note the exact location and keep the repair invoices. Councils run their own claims processes, so ask the relevant one how to make a claim.

The best defence is distance. Leave room to see the road surface ahead, slow down on broken roads and, where it is safe to do so, steer around potholes rather than through them.