Not a novice, nor a pro, but I bent mine on my EB48 shortly after I got it (first batch, but I don't believe it has changed comparing the ones I have). Just the lip of it though, so it still meshes fine, it is just harder to adjust it in small amounts.

It did take a big hit to do it though. I was going down the straight at full speed when a SC8 pulled out sideways in front of me. The only things it did for damage were the motor mount lip bend, and it popped a steering ball joint down onto the base of the ball off of the ball on the wheel side that hit. I just popped it back into place and kept going, it still has the same stuff on it today, winning races.