Hit a curb, now what

[poindexternasty]

Hey all,

I slid into a curb about 4 years ago in my 02 GT Vert. A few months after impact I went in to get tires. Of course I needed an alignment. I was told there was WAY too much negative camber. The strut towers have been slotted - TWICE. I want to put things back the way they were now.

My question is this: Since I slid into the curb at about 10 mph sideways (that is, the wheel surface and the curb were pretty much flush upon impact), what should I be looking for as far as damage goes? How likely is a bent spindle? IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO AT HOME TO EVALUATE/DIAGNOSE BENT/DAMAGED PARTS???

What specific part would cause the camber to go negative after an impact like this? I have already purchased a set of Cobra A-arms, UPR CC plates, and have new coil springs in the mail. I am overhauling the front suspension components and have already replacing bushings, etc.

Thanks for your help, I always appreciate the collective intellect and desire to assist within in the Mustang community.

 

[RedDaemon]

you hit a curb 4 years ago and youre worrying about it now?

tell me you didnt tell the alignment shop you hit a curb. youre just asking for trouble then.

if youre really that worried about it..get new struts and caster/camber plates. see if that helps




jack the car up..look at one side and compare it to the other. it could be a bunch of things. 10mph doesnt seem like itd cause that much damage tho....ask LaserSVT

 

[rabidscoobie]

Yea 10mph dont seem like much but I have personally seen a rear tire hit a curb at about 15mph and it completely snapped all the studs right off.so who knows.

 

[bhuff30]

I'm trying to understand how hitting the curb would cause too much negative camber. The impact you got should cause too much positive camber I would think? Definately replace the A-arm, that may take care of the problem.
Aftermarket CC plates have a much wider range of adjustability than factory. These will help get you to spec as well.
The spindle is cast, so I would tend to think it would break rather than bend. Anything is possible, but I'd bet the A-arm is the major problem.

 

[poindexternasty]

Ok cool, I already have the Cobra replacement A-Arms ready to go.... just need an afternoon and a six pack of good beer.

No, I didn't mention anything to the alignment shop, I'm not that stupid The car rode fine after the impact with the exception of wearing on the INNER edge of the drivers side tire and a LITTLE bit on the inner side of the passenger tire. I went in for new tires and was told by the mechanic/monkey: "You HAD to have lowered this thing or did SOMETHING to it because my machine says its WAY out of spec."

The car was, and has been always, completely stock. He was right about hitting something but it didn't occur to me afterward. like I said, immediately after the impact the car rode OK so I didn't worry about it.

It is an issue now because I am spending $$$$ to overhaul the front suspension to restore as close to a like-new ride as possible.

I SHOULD MENTION: I replaced the shocks, tie rod ends, ball joints on the front end a few months ago. When I removed the OEM shock that had 95k miles on it, the drivers side would compress but would not rebound. It was totally gone.

My car has a slight "bounce" to it when turning RIGHT around corners on bumpy roads... I dunno if this helps you suspension gurus diagnose from afar.

Other than that curb incident, the car has never been abused or raced.

Thanks for the input, I appreciate it and look forward to your continued feedback.

 

[rabidscoobie]

No spindles do bend.When my GT was hit by a drunk on the passenger side....he bent the spindle,along with twisted strut,snapped tie rods amoung other things.

Believe it or not the outter part of the rim was shoved against the firewall/fender,tread directly 90* out.The car was actually pushed into the nieghbors yard,about 12' back and over the curb.That is as straight as the tire would go,since I had to drive it out of the neighbors yard.NO frame or motor damage tho,just what you see.

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[poindexternasty]

Scoobie,

It is cases like yours that makes me think capital punishment is suitable for drunks hitting mustangs, ugh.

So, it may be worth my while to try and find a spindle? I would rather go overboard and KNOW I fixed my problem than to half-ass it, get the car on the alignment rack and be told that something is STILL wrong with the car.

 

[rabidscoobie]

If you feel that you need to.Me,I tend to go overboard too since I like knowing it is for sure fixed and I also dont like doing things 2x's either.

As for the drunk it was really a hit and run,but i jumped in my dads truck and followed the grind marks in the asphault since his rim shattered into about 5 or so pieces,he was riding on the rotor.Cops got him.But the next day after he got outta jail he did come by to apologise and give me his info,the guy actually threw-up when he saw the car,i dunno if that made him sick or the hang-over.

 

[poindexternasty]

you should have ****ing shot him. **** drinks, hit me and u ****ing die. I had the unfortunate pleasure of a stolen car hitting me and the guy trying to drive off..... God I love living in a concealed weapons state

 

[poindexternasty]

btw I only called the cops, scared little punk shhit-less though

 

[Budhowlee]

I hit a curb also,I took wheel to tire shop,they sent to specialist,est 200 bucks ouch plus taxes...have not got back yet

 

[poindexternasty]

This is never a fun experience. I feel sorry for the people that get duped by having no knowledge of cars.

 

[poindexternasty]

anyone have a similar experience with a curb?

 

[johnnyt03gt]

i hit one 8 years on 2000 Z28 first didnt look bad took it to shop
the control arm's k-member oil pan headers rooters tie rods
to the eye it may look.good but thats a bad way.to hit a carllllllllllllllllllllll