Bent axle?

CU301

MEMBER
2001 FORD TAURUS

Hey guys I'm new to this forum and was hoping for some advice as I'm pretty lost when it comes to cars.

Well the other night I went to a restaurant and was parking when I backed up into a small pole about 2 feet high. Anyways I sideswiped it along the rear passenger side quarter panel - it scraped the side of the rear bumper and 1/4 panel, up along the rear right wheel well, and I guess it kind of got into the fender (don't know for sure cause I pulled forward after hitting it).

Now the rear passenger wheel is right snug up against the front area of the wheel well at all times. I'm guessing the axle is bent but I'm not sure. Luckily I know a guy with a shop right next to the restaurant and I had to park it outside of it for the night and wait till Monday to go see what's up. When I moved the car, the wheel was definitely on the fender as I could hear it scraping it. Plus the wheel is definitely not aligned with the side of the car and the hubcaps looked a little bent too.

Do any of you guys have experience with this? Do you know what could possibly be wrong? And do you guys know how much the repairs will run?

I know the shop owner OK but I think he'll only hold back a little of the labor fees so if I really want to save on the repairs I need to buy the necessary parts myself. Any of you guys know a good place in the Los Angeles area or a mailorder with decent and cheap parts?

I was killing myself all day for this and it's safe to say that was one of my more humiliating moments. Can't save face but hoping to save some dough. Thanks guys.

4 Replies

CU301

MEMBER
3 POSTS

I just got the quote from the shop and they said the frame was bent some and I needed to replace the whole control arm structure. I don't know if the frame was actually bent (i was going really really slow) but i'm pretty sure I screwed the suspension.

He quoted me at $650 for parts and labor and said that was a discount price since I know the guy. What do you guys think?

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Tuesday, May 2nd, 2006 AT 3:32 PM

CHRISTOPHERA

MEMBER
3 POSTS

Are you sure you didnt just bend the paneling to where it hits your wheel? I've been in a few accidents and I have never bent the frame of my car. Actually one of the accidents I was sideswiped by a guy going about 40 mph. Almost totalled my car. But no bent frame.

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Tuesday, May 2nd, 2006 AT 8:32 PM

CU301

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3 POSTS

No the panel's not bent where the wheel is touching it. It's the wheel alignment that's off. And it's only the rear passenger wheel, the other side is perfectly straight.

He told me it's the control arm that's damaged. So I guess he's going to replace it after and there was also some structural damage (or so he says) and he will straighten that out as well.

All this for 650-700. Thanks for the reply.

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Wednesday, May 3rd, 2006 AT 9:41 AM

CBAILEYII

MEMBER
26 POSTS

The price you were quoted seems pretty fair for your area. If the frame was bent though, you would have to report it to you rinsurance and have an adjuster look at the integrity of the frame. Frame damage is the most common reason an insurance company note a vehicle as a "total". As far as the "structural" damage, I'm guessing it is just the fender well, and when he said frame it was a misnaming thing. Anyway, his estimat and quote to you for the LA area sounds pretty decent.

On another note, you may want to also look into the location and marking of the pole you ran into, if not properly marked, the property owner may be liable.

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Monday, May 8th, 2006 AT 1:05 AM