Pothole 1 Stag 0!

[mike@thenook]

A couple of weeks ago I hit one of the many potholes I and everybody now has to suffer on our dilapidated roads, I remember it as a very big crash at the time from the lh front wheel and one I could not at the time avoid due a car coming the other way.
There appeared to be no damage so I thought no more of it until this morning when, planning on taking SAL to my son's Sunday morning kart meeting I got in, started up and drove out if the garage, or rather I didn't- there was a very odd rubbing noise coming from the front and the car seemed to be dragging.
i got out to have a closer look and not only had the front lh side had dropped but sitting on the floor was a chunk of coil spring!
It seems when I hit that hit that hole it must have fractured the spring and over about 70 miles gradually sheared, but what I don't understand is why sitting in the garage it suddenly and finally gave way, really odd.
what I should also point out is that none of the springs on my car are old, they are Monarch progressive standard height units fitted about 2 years ago that have covered no more than 5,000 miles.
So, if you ever hit a pothole do check the car after unlike me as you could be in for a nasty shock, I was going to take the car to our monthly meet last Thursday but changed my mind at the last moment-thank God I did as if it went doing 70 mph on the A12 I may not be here now.

ill be putting in a claim of course as the hole is still there with no sign of being fixed and only a month ago my daughter had a tyre blow out on her car due to another pothole requiring her to buy a new tyre

-it's disgraceful the roads can be left in such a state, 😡😡😡😡

[Andrew S]

Sorry to hear this Mike

[Staggard]

Surly Mike there has got to be a problem with the spring manufacture, it should take a lot more punishment than a pot hole. Graham

[Kingswood90]

A couple of weeks ago I hit one of the many potholes I and everybody now has to suffer on our dilapidated roads, I remember it as a very big crash at the time from the lh front wheel and one I could not at the time avoid due a car coming the other way.
There appeared to be no damage so I thought no more of it until this morning when, planning on taking SAL to my son's Sunday morning kart meeting I got in, started up and drove out if the garage, or rather I didn't- there was a very odd rubbing noise coming from the front and the car seemed to be dragging.
i got out to have a closer look and not only had the front lh side had dropped but sitting on the floor was a chunk of coil spring!
It seems when I hit that hit that hole it must have fractured the spring and over about 70 miles gradually sheared, but what I don't understand is why sitting in the garage it suddenly and finally gave way, really odd.
what I should also point out is that none of the springs on my car are old, they are Monarch progressive standard height units fitted about 2 years ago that have covered no more than 5,000 miles.
So, if you ever hit a pothole do check the car after unlike me as you could be in for a nasty shock, I was going to take the car to our monthly meet last Thursday but changed my mind at the last moment-thank God I did as if it went doing 70 mph on the A12 I may not be here now.

ill be putting in a claim of course as the hole is still there with no sign of being fixed and only a month ago my daughter had a tyre blow out on her car due to another pothole requiring her to buy a new tyre

-it's disgraceful the roads can be left in such a state, 😡😡😡😡

Having successfully claimed over £1k from the council for pothole damage, make sure you have pictures of the hole, and measurements, depth, width etc.. They will fix the hole pronto so take another picture and date it was done. Get an estimate for the replacement of parts and labour involved.
Know that they will deny liability at least once, possibly twice. But don't give in. Do everything by letter, keep copies etc.
Happy council hunting..

[stuart]

Having successfully claimed over £1k from the council for pothole damage, make sure you have pictures of the hole, and measurements, depth, width etc.. They will fix the hole pronto so take another picture and date it was done. Get an estimate for the replacement of parts and labour involved.
Know that they will deny liability at least once, possibly twice. But don't give in. Do everything by letter, keep copies etc.
Happy council hunting..

Very good advice, good luck!

[michael]

apparently councils will not pay out if the pothole has not been reported before your incident . because that would mean they were neglegent.

Michael.

[modelracer]

If you type, fix my street,in Google you can report all sorts of things, and if we all did it we might get something done, I've reported several pot holes and they are usually fixed in a few days.

[mike@thenook]

Surly Mike there has got to be a problem with the spring manufacture, it should take a lot more punishment than a pot hole. Graham

I would have thought so too Graham, i'm going top speak with Monarh of course but in no way b;aming them for the problem

[mike@thenook]

Full marks to Ian at Monarch,

I sent him a photo of the spring and he's sent another completely foc before I even send it back for investigation although he did say he's never had one break before - Excellent service as always!
I cant upload the picture I took on here due to our stupid work system or the ones I took of the hole last night but it is still there, 6"deep, 57" long and 24" at its widest point - it is a bloody dangerous hole which if a biker hit at speed would be off and injured! They've even marked it with yellow (some time back as its started to wear out) probably with a view to filling it in.
Just glad I don't pay road tax any more on the Stag!

[Jeff]

I think the yellow is there to warn you of an old un repaired pothole

[Arbman Al]

Over our way if a pothole has been marked with yellow it means the council are aware of it, and it is on the list to be repaired, therefore they cannot be held negligent!

[Kingswood90]

apparently councils will not pay out if the pothole has not been reported before your incident . because that would mean they were neglegent.

Michael.

Makes no difference. If they knew about it they should have either fixed it or done something appropriate to warn road users of it. Yellow paint on the road is not sufficient warning.
Letting things slip by not complaining or letting it go just lets things carry on. More fuss by everyone to the councils gets action.
Take it from me, I worked for one.

[mike@thenook]

I'm thinking of getting a GoPro mounted at the front linked to an onboard camera so I can see better the yellow highlighted holes before it's too late- at least if I brake suddenly because I've seen the hole in good time I only risk getting smacked up the arse by someone behind me and that of course, would not be my fault......

[Staggard]

I'm thinking of getting a GoPro mounted at the front linked to an onboard camera so I can see better the yellow highlighted holes before it's too late- at least if I brake suddenly because I've seen the hole in good time I only risk getting smacked up the arse by someone behind me and that of course, would not be my fault......

I know I am not telling you something that you don't already know, but it would be prudent to check out the rest of the suspension, tyre and rim on that side as well.