Ben G
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Registered: 12th Jan 07
Location: Essex
User status: Offline
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swerved to avoid a dead fox in the road and hit one of those island things where people use to cross half the road at a time.
i didn't want to hit the fox incase i ruined my fiesta st front bumper and kerbed my front drivers side wheel instead.
but, i noticed after a while that my steering wheel isn't sitting straight, it's turned to the right a bit (about 2 inches) when going straight forward.
are there any common ways in which hitting a kerb would cause your steering wheel to go like this or can it be anything?
thanks 
[Edited on 01-10-2007 by Ben G]
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carnuts
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Registered: 28th Aug 05
Location: Hertfordshire
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you could bent something else mate suspension wise if your really lucky you will have just knoacked the tracking out but i doubt it mate
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Neshol
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Registered: 10th Jul 02
Location: Midlands
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Tracking?
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grogan
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Registered: 31st Jul 06
Location: County Durham
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would of rather hit the fox instead of wrecking my car
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TheCam
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Registered: 16th Mar 07
Location: Kirkcaldy
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most likely a balljoint or track rod end.
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Ben G
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Registered: 12th Jan 07
Location: Essex
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i had a look under the car and didn't see anything damaged, the shock was sitting fine and the wheel is not pushed back so i'm not really sure what it is. it doesn't affect my driving in any way, i just want it fixed
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Ben G
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Registered: 12th Jan 07
Location: Essex
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quote:
Originally posted by grogan
would of rather hit the fox instead of wrecking my car
a lot of money for a new st front bumper mate, and the car is still driveable
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willhouse
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Registered: 11th Jul 06
Location: Sheffield
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sounds like something is pretty fooked there on the steering/suspension front. your tracking wouldnt be knocked out if its 2inch out of line with the wheels, something has bent.
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Ben G
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Registered: 12th Jan 07
Location: Essex
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 guess i'll have to take it in somewhere.
would any repair company look at it for me for labour costs? and give an estimate of the repair without me having to leave my car there?
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Ben G
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Registered: 12th Jan 07
Location: Essex
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also forgot to mention that on full lock left, you can hear a grinding sort of noise which i believe is the wheel hitting the inner wheel arch?
doesn't happen for the other wheel.
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stevegreetham
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Registered: 30th Oct 03
Location: Grimsby/Sheffield
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check the ball joint mate
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AndyCorsaSport
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Registered: 12th Feb 06
Location: Horsforth, West Yorkshire
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Could you not have braked? How fast were you going?
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ShEp
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Registered: 9th Aug 05
Location: Dingwall, Highland
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should of hit the fox
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Neshol
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Registered: 10th Jul 02
Location: Midlands
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To be fair it was probably an impulse reaction. I hit two baby foxes in my old Passat and it ripped the lower grille off  
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Ben G
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Registered: 12th Jan 07
Location: Essex
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by AndyCorsaSport
Could you not have braked? How fast were you going?
i did brake, had a full car, approx 30mph
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JM_16v
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Registered: 17th Oct 05
Location: Essex Drives: GLC63S
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kerbs =hard
fox = soft and squishy
hit the fox next time
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Lee Wilson
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Registered: 20th Feb 06
Location: Fareham, Hants Drives: XE Corsa
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Take it to a tyre place mate, thier be able to take a quick look for you. Could just be the tracking, I've knocked mine out once or twice hitting various potholes with the coilovers on
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Ben G
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Registered: 12th Jan 07
Location: Essex
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by JM_16v
kerbs =hard
fox = soft and squishy
hit the fox next time
no thanks, £300+ for a new front bumper, sod that
and bones are hard iirc
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andy1868
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Registered: 22nd Jun 06
Location: Burscough, Lancashire
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who was it that had a fox lodged in their GSi bumper a while back? they can cause more damage than you might think.
and tbh i'd assume you didn't really have time to think about what would be in your way etc
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AndyCorsaSport
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Registered: 12th Feb 06
Location: Horsforth, West Yorkshire
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Whos to say you would need a new bumper? Could have been an easy repair. Could cost you more than 300 now if wheel needs re-furbing and if theres any damage to suspension etc.
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nik
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Registered: 19th Jun 00
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Get it on the ramps, give it a good inspection and see if anything looks bent/broken. I would say tracking is out so get that done after you've had a good look about. Might not be any further damage.
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Ben G
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Registered: 12th Jan 07
Location: Essex
User status: Offline
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getting new wheels anyway and it's only kerbed so i can live with it for a month.
and i'm not going to repair a brand new front bumper on a brand new car, i would just buy new as it could look shit otherwise.
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Ben G
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Registered: 12th Jan 07
Location: Essex
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by nik
Get it on the ramps, give it a good inspection and see if anything looks bent/broken. I would say tracking is out so get that done after you've had a good look about. Might not be any further damage.
hope not mate, thanks for the advice
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mwg
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Registered: 19th Feb 04
Location: South Lakes
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Hopefully just tracking.
On another note I hit a badger at 30 and my bumper wasn't damaged. Just bit of badger hair in the front lower grill Bumpers have a bit of give in them
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Robin
Premium Member
Registered: 7th Jan 04
Location: Northants Drives: Clio 182 Cup
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Having the tracking done will just mask the problem.
You've bent something, your tracking cannot be 'knocked' out of line, something else is bent.
Probably a bottom arm, they're designed to bend so that the damage is easy to fix, instead of bending the car, which wouldn't be as cheap.
You won't be able to tell by looking at it though, and 90% of backstreet tyre fitting places will just do the tracking and leave you with a bent suspension part.
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