Just had a minor accident - suspension damage?
 

Well... I really ****ed up today.

I got hit from the side right into my left front wheel which was turned quite a bit to the left at the moment of impact. So it absorbed most of the force of impact. It wasn't a high-speed crash, more of a fender bender really, but while the bodywork damage is not too bad, it looks like the suspension took one for the team unfortunately.

Here are the symptoms:

1. ESP off and traction lights are on on the dash
2. The steering feels very light
3. I need to turn the steering wheel quite a bit to the side and hold it there while driving for the car to go straight

I don't expect that someone will be able to give me a definitive diagnosis over the internet. I'm obviously taking the car to the shop as soon as I can.

I'm just wondering what sort of scenarios I could be looking at? Best case and worst case. I assume something must be bent - does this always mean an expensive repair bill?

https://i.ibb.co/G7NNRD3/rsz-20210409-175506.jpg

Bent frame = salvage

Anything that is connected with bolts? Replaceable

Sorry, thats the long and short of it

Hope your frame is straight, then it's time to throw away your stock suspension and get coils, SPL catalog, and wheels

What do you consider expensive? And what do you consider 'not high speed'? If impact was 20 mph or less you might be looking at just a couple thousand in repairs. Higher speed means more damage likely.

I'd consider myself lucky if it ends up costing less than $1500 to repair not including bumper respray.

I'd say I got hit at around 20 mph.

I tried to take a video of the affected wheel. I don't see anything obvious in the video, does anyone else?

I don't understand why the embedded video is not working. Here is the Youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIvh2p-Xaus

My last post just got removed? I don't understand what happened.

I'd consider myself lucky if it ends up costing less than $1500 to repair not including bumper respray cost.

I'd say I got hit at around 20mph.

Here is a youtube video I took of the affected wheel. I don't see anything obviously damaged. Does anyone?

Things that might be bent.
1. Rim
2. Upper control arm
3. Lower control arm
4. Steering knuckle
5. Tie rod end
6. Rack and pinion
7. Frame
8. Engine cradle

You really don't know until it goes to the shop.

I saw it. It may have been automatic by the server. There is some rule about members needing 10 posts first before they can link photos or videos. An admin (PM Trips) should be able to override that and restore a removed post if so requested.

Tie rod is for sure bent, you can see it around the 0:20 mark.

That’s too bad, but at least you’re ok. Good luck with the repairs.

:iagree:

As long as the frame isn't damaged, it's just a matter of replacing parts. I knocked the right front wheel, brake, and a few other parts off of my Z - no frame damage so just replaced a bunch of parts, gave it a good alignment, and it was good to go.

Thanks guys. I will hopefully be able to get it checked out next week. I'm praying that it doesn't end up being anything too serious. I don't think the impact was strong enough to cause frame damage, but you never know. I'm more worried about the suspension and how many parts will need to be replaced. This will be all going out of my pocket since I was at fault and I only have liability insurance.

Do you mean the wheel actually detached from the car? If so, then that's pretty crazy that the car wasn't totalled.

Does it drive and feel the same after the accident compared to before? This is the other thing I'm worried about - that the car won't ever feel "right" again.

Yes, the wheel/brake/etc assembly was laying in the ditch a few yards behind the car. There was a lot of discussion between the insurance company and the body shop about whether or not to total it. The body shop told me it was repairable, so I urged them do so if insurance would pay for it.

As far as I could tell, it drove exactly the same after the repairs.

If I hadn't had a body shop that I could trust, I would have pushed to have had it totaled. I, my family, and many friends have been using the shop for several decades. Great people.

Here is an update for you guys. Unfortunately, it's not great news and the list of parts that will need to be replaced is pretty long:

1. Lower control arm
2. Upper control arm
3. Front spindle (knuckle)
4. Wheel bearing
5. Inner tie rods on both sides
6. Outer tie rod ends on both sides
7. Front fender (the mounting bracket is damaged)

In addition to that my headlight is slightly damaged - one of the mounts is broken and the housing cracked open. However, it should be possible to save the headlight.

The headlight assembly bracket is also damaged, but should be fixable as well.

Finally, the front bumper needs to be fixed and resprayed.

I'm looking at a total bill of almost $4000 including parts, labour and fender + bumper respray. :( Assuming that nothing else pops up.

Sorry to hear that the damage isn't minimal.

OUCH! Insurance not covering you?

Nope, unfortunately not. I was at fault and I only have liability insurance (stupid, I know).