Why does the front suspension knock after driving over potholes?

I had a friend who used to drive an old car, and after going over a really messed up road, her front suspension started knocking. It turned out the ball joints were to blame - they'd hardened so much over time that they basically lost their play. After hitting the potholes, the parts started banging against each other, making these characteristic knocking sounds. She took the car to a mechanic, and he said this is one of the most common results of driving on bad roads.

Usually a knock in the front suspension after potholes points to a few possible problems. Most often it's worn ball joints, tie rod ends, or stabilizer bars. Shock absorbers also suffer a lot - they just lose their seal and stop dampening impacts properly. Sometimes clips and fasteners get stuck and develop play. Basically, hitting potholes is serious stress for the suspension, especially if the car's not new.

What to do: go get a diagnostic check from a mechanic who'll lift the car and check every suspension part. Don't put it off, because the more you drive with it, the worse the problem gets, and the repair bills will only go up. In 2026 a good diagnostic doesn't cost much at all, but replacing worn-out parts later will be way more expensive.