Steering is loose after bottoming out

[tpattgeek]

I'll try to make this as brief as possible while providing all details necessary. I tend to ramble... OK, this is about my 07 Civic Sedan. I was driving home one day down a two-lane road when I saw the road was closed (for construction). I went to turn left into a driveway and didn't realize it went from asphalt to gravel. At the transition there was a drop off of.. it had to be.. several inches. I noticed it was bad but didn't have time to stop so I hit it going about 5-8mph probably. The car stopped just as it "fell", and I heard a minor "bang" from underneath. It felt like right at my feet. I assumed it was the jack points behind the front wheels, but when I got back on the road, I SWEAR the steering felt much looser than before. I've been driving this car for 5 years since new and I'm either going crazy or something loosened up under there. I looked underneath as much as I could without lifting it (will be doing that soon for maintenance) and didn't see anything scratched, scuff, or leaking. Alignment isn't off, it isn't pulling. Nothing else seems odd except the looseness of the wheel when turning. So, am I going crazy or does it sound like something is loose? If something is loosened, what could it be? I'm by no means a certified mechanic but am very good at following directions and could figure almost anything out with a little research. I'll bring it to a shop if I HAVE to, but I'm dreading it. ANY help is appreciated!

 

[Highline9]

I think the only adjustment you have is toe. Check that yourself and look for bent parts good luck.

 

[tpattgeek]

My alignment isn't off, so why would I need to adjust the toe?

 

[dparm]

Tie rods could have loosened up.

 

[Skid]

Yeah, tie rods sounds right. Jack up the car, wiggle the wheels, and look at the tie rods.

 

[Dakota1820]

Get under the car and look and feel as someone wiggles the wheel. Check everything closely

 

[eljefino]

sounds like a ball joint. I had one go out when I was a kid when I stupidly jacked on the lower control arm doing a snow tire changeover. Just jack each corner up and push and pull on the tire/wheel. 9 and 3 oclock looseness would typically be tie rods, 12 and 6 ball joint. Having a helper rock the steering wheel a few inches while you watch underneath (with the tires back on the ground) is a great idea too.

 

[NHGUY]

Wonder if the rack mounts broke/came loose???

 

[eljefino]

^ you'd hope they'd be better protected. But if one (of two) snapped, this could be it.

 

[tpattgeek]

Originally Posted By: Skid

Yeah, tie rods sounds right. Jack up the car, wiggle the wheels, and look at the tie rods.

If it is the tie rods that are loose, can you tighten them or do you have to replace something?

 

[IndyIan]

I suspect its nothing as I don't think any part of the front suspension would've taken a hit from the edge of the road hitting the bottom of the car. And just dropping off a small height shouldn't hurt anything in the front end either. But I'd have a look under there just in case and to convince yourself the car is OK.

 

[tpattgeek]

Yeah, like I said, it felt like it just hit the jack points behind the front wheels... It couldn't have hit any of the suspension directly... thanks for the info. though.

 

[yzerman]

I think dparm and other member are correct. My friend has a 01' civic, 4dr, and he was in a accident rear ended a suburban. Got car fixed correctly and didnt notice anything out of the ordinary. I drove it for a day to and from work, and above 65 if you de accelerated, you could hear a ramble/duh duh duh sound under passenger floor. Turns out one tire had a broken belt. I had my friend that inspects cars check it out, and both tie rods were not passable for inspection. My 2 cents.

 

[Skid]

Originally Posted By: tpattgeek

If it is the tie rods that are loose, can you tighten them or do you have to replace something?

You'd replace the tie rod(s). Basically, while the wheels are up in the air, jiggle them and look for abnormal play in the tie rods (there's a ball joint at the end of them). Something may have gotten out of round there.

 

[tpattgeek]

So, you'd jiggle the steering when the car is OFF, right? Won't that lock the wheel? Or do you put the key to On, without the engine running?

 

[Skid]

Originally Posted By: tpattgeek

So, you'd jiggle the steering when the car is OFF, right? Won't that lock the wheel? Or do you put the key to On, without the engine running?

Not the steering wheel - jiggle one of the front wheels at a time and look at the corresponding tie rod. If it's loose, you'll see a lot of play. A ball joint will have a solid sphere which is hard to damage, but will have this shell that goes around it, which is easy to damage.

 

[dparm]

Tie rod is easy to check. Jack the entire front end of the car up and put it on jackstands. Try and turn the wheels left to right -- check for excess play. Honestly I would just tell you to take it to the dealer or your local indie shop.