Steering not right after minor collision

[ChristoC]

Hi

I appreciate it is hard to assess this without seeing the car - and i am having a mechanic look at this tomorrow - but i would be keen to get an understanding on the size of this issue.

I had a minor collision today. I was going full-round a mini roundabout and as i was turning a van misunderstood what i was doing and clipped the front right of the car.

At first glance it is just a minor dent that has slightly warped the drivers door and front right panel, meaning when you open or close the door it catches between the two.

Latterly though i realised there is something wrong with the alignment.  Driving the car without touching the wheel, it veers to the left. So, to drive the car straight i need to turn the wheel 45% to the right.

As an estimate i would say the van was doing between 5 and 8mph.


Thoughts appreciated on whether this is minor realignment or something worse.

Thanks

[madasafish]

Likely:
bent steering rod or
bent wishbone.

Both will entail replacement..(Straightening possible but metal be seriously weakened.)

Or wheel damage - less likely.

[Lord Voltermore]

I know its not what you want to hear  but being struck from the side by a van is a bit like being struck by a 3 tonne sledgehammer.  Even at 8mph there is a lot of kinetic energy.     The Bodywork can crumple and absorb some.    But a side impact on the wheel  can  be transferred directly to components that are quite solid  but not designed to absorb or resist an impact from that direction.  And the weakest point, or points , may bend, fracture or be weakened.     Its one of the reasons why a car that may not appear to have much visual damage may be written off by insurers .

For safety reasons the car  needs inspection by an experienced mechanic .  Easy for me to say  but until then it wont help to speculate  and worry  about how bad things could  be.   Just hope for the best.  Good luck. 



 

 

[Kremmen]

Step 1, get the tracking checked

[ChristoC]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts - appreciated.

[olduser1]

Misposted.

[ChristoC]

Sorry i forgot to update this thread last night...

I have had it looked at and thankfully there is no serious damage - just needs wheel realignment

[ChristoC]

Thanks again for all input