Damage to look out for from Front Left Parking Hit?

[inkuisitive]

Was parked outside a restaurant and watched a reversing Land Cruiser accelerate hard and slam into my front fender. Guy disappeared before I got down. A bit of luck it was parked on gravel

Will go to the garage once they are open tomorrow for inspection. However need to use the car for about 100 kms, of I make a full right turn there's a regular tack tack sound.

Also feels out of alignment pulling right and steering is a little to the left about 11 of clock when driving straight. I hope adding about 100 to 200 kms won't add more damage before garages are open tomorrow?

 

[Bailey28]

Wow that stinks... Obviously this guy is not a Bitog'er. Look under the fender by removing the wheel and fender liner. Look for cross bracing that may be damaged and fluid bottles if there are any nearby.
On most vehicles the area behind the dent is usually an empty void ( I am assuming this is the front left drivers side).

Also make sure your door opens and closes right as well as the hood.

 

[ka9mnx]

If the steering is that bad the only miles I would put on the car is straight to the repair shop.

 

[inkuisitive]

Door doesn't open fully. Looks like tie rod or arm are bent. Wheel is touching body. Found a garage that opens today for inspection but will take a few days for repair authorisation.

Also found whoever hit me doesn't have insurance hence the big and run.

 

[The_Jeff]

I drove that far with worse alignment and the car did fine. But it's not great and stresses your wheel bearings as well as your tires.

Obviously something got bent; you should get it checked over carefully as bent front end parts aren't as strong as straight ones.

That wheel is only touching the fender liner when you're at full lock, right? Anyway needs fixed.

 

[slo town]

I agree with @Bailey28. Pull the front wheel and make a visual inspection of the front suspension. Check for a bent tie rod, check the pickup points where the suspension attaches to the frame/body, etc.

Before doing this make a few full right turns while driving slowly to replicate the sound you heard, that way you should be able to see what's rubbing.

Assuming every thing is "sound enough" to drive, the only risk is you'll have excessive tire wear.

Scott

PS: I drove my E90 170 miles to get home after it got smacked while parked. I didn't park crooked like that, the car got snagged and moved. I did all the above before proceeding. Steering wheel was straight but I hated every moment.

 

[inkuisitive]

I drove that far with worse alignment and the car did fine. But it's not great and stresses your wheel bearings as well as your tires.

Obviously something got bent; you should get it checked over carefully as bent front end parts aren't as strong as straight ones.

That wheel is only touching the fender liner when you're at full lock, right? Anyway needs fixed.

Yes, only at full lock plus the loss of alignment.

 

[inkuisitive]

I agree with @Bailey28. Pull the front wheel and make a visual inspection of the front suspension. Check for a bent tie rod, check the pickup points where the suspension attaches to the frame/body, etc.

Before doing this make a few full right turns while driving slowly to replicate the sound you heard, that way you should be able to see what's rubbing.

Assuming every thing is "sound enough" to drive, the only risk is you'll have excessive tire wear.

Scott

PS: I drove my E90 170 miles to get home after it got smacked while parked. I didn't park crooked like that, the car got snagged and moved. I did all the above before proceeding. Steering wheel was straight but I hated every moment.

View attachment 324439

Exactly same thing happened to me

We can't see any damage but since wheel touches body on full lock and lack of alignment we suspect a tie rod is bent. Arm may have been spared since the LC100 hit high.

Cant hear a sound from inside but people outside hear it when turning at full lock.

 

[JavierH19]

Did the restaurant have a camera in your direction. And don't assume that because they ran they don't have insurance. Most do and just don't want to pay up.

 

[slo town]

Exactly same thing happened to me

We can't see any damage but since wheel touches body on full lock and lack of alignment we suspect a tie rod is bent. Arm may have been spared since the LC100 hit high.

Cant hear a sound from inside but people outside hear it when turning at full lock.

Just don't turn full lock when driving it home. I'm not joking.

In your picture it looks like some of the inner splash shields are not attached and/or are moved out of position. There is no way the actual impact caused that. Did you think the full lock turn snagged them enough to pull them loose?

Scott

 

[inkuisitive]

Did the restaurant have a camera in your direction. And don't assume that because they ran they don't have insurance. Most do and just don't want to pay up.

It's quite likely they don't given the type of car. The premium is high and most owners are cheap stakes

 

[inkuisitive]

Just don't turn full lock when driving it home. I'm not joking.

In your picture it looks like some of the inner splash shields are not attached and/or are moved out of position. There is no way the actual impact caused that. Did you think the full lock turn snagged them enough to pull them loose?

Scott

From a previous incident. I couldn't get OM shields and the Taiwanese ones don't fit properly and got torn by the wheel.

Wheel does look bent.

 

[slo town]

From a previous incident. I couldn't get OM shields and the Taiwanese ones don't fit properly and got torn by the wheel.

Wheel does look bent.

View attachment 324450

I can't see any wheel damage in the picture, but if it bent the wheel the impact was significant. Jack it up and rotate the wheel to verity. If the wheel is indeed bent I'd be very careful when you drive to where ever.

Scott

 

[JeffKeryk]

Man that sucks. Sorry for your trouble. Get 'er fixed.

 

[inkuisitive]

This is the opposite front tyre. They don't look like they have the same angle on the ground.

 

[inkuisitive]

I can't see any wheel damage in the picture, but if it bent the wheel the impact was significant. Jack it up and rotate the wheel to verity. If the wheel is indeed bent I'd be very careful when you drive to where ever.

Scott

Removed the wheel at a petrol station and we can't see any damage. The wheel touching the body seems to be due to a bent shield in there.

Alignment may have been probably off as I haven't done it since I changed tyres.

 

[slo town]

Removed the wheel at a petrol station and we can't see any damage. The wheel touching the body seems to be due to a bent shield in there.

Alignment may have been probably off as I haven't done it since I changed tyres.

I notice my straight ahead steering wheel angle within a degree or two. If yours when from 12 o'clock to 11 o'clock from the impact like you said, something got bent.

Scott

 

[Bailey28]

I am curious if people in Europe love to hit and run like they do in the USA? Bruce Springsteen's "Baby we were born to run" tune comes to mind.

It's a sad world when people smack you car then take off and costs us all more money.

That clicking sound at max turn lock might be a bent tie rod moving the steering knucke past it's original stopping point, pushing the CV joint past it's intended articulation.

 

[inkuisitive]

I am curious if people in Europe love to hit and run like they do in the USA? Bruce Springsteen's "Baby we were born to run" tune comes to mind.

It's a sad world when people smack you car then take off and costs us all more money.

That clicking sound at max turn lock might be a bent tie rod moving the steering knucke past it's original stopping point, pushing the CV joint past it's intended articulation.

It's in Africa, and yes, they love hit and runs.

Looks I'll just have to do a full service so I have the tie rods properly inspected. Was hoping to put it off for a month or 2 to import Valvoline Restore and Protect but seems it's back to Motul, Mobil 1 or the mech seems to prefer Petronas.

 

[inkuisitive]

From a previous incident. I couldn't get OM shields and the Taiwanese ones don't fit properly and got torn by the wheel.

Wheel does look bent.

View attachment 324450

Went for alignment work today and the suspension is actually bent, and yes, the wheel is slanting here.

These are the before and after figures. My car repair guy says he'll adjust the suspension to cater for it so we don't have to do a replacement.

Culprit actually came later. Associates of his in the bar told him to sort it out especially since the offending car was borrowed and would end up in a police/insurance claim.

He's a 27 year old, probably the dude in the bar who was so drunk his lady colleagues kept trying to "talk to him". Unfortunately only charged him for the panel as didn't realise suspension needed work since shop was closed on Sunday.