Reversed into a bollard

[Cezney]

:dapprove:

Earlier this evening had a bit of an incident reversing into a low bollard below the height of the mirrors, stupid mistake but whats done is done.

The damage is a deep scratch along the left side 3/4 panel, with a nice big dent underneath it. The rear bumper is also badly scuffed and will require smoothing over.

My biggest concern is that the steering is no longer straight, when the wheel is centred the car turns left on its own, having hit the rear of the car i don't understand how this has happened?

Has anyone had a similar experience and could estimate cost? colour is solid red if that makes a difference to scratch repair. The job is beyond companies such as chips away i would have though.

Can anyone reccomend a good body repair shop in Rugby, Daventry or Southam? i'm a student so price is a big consideration

Thanks,
Cezney

 

[Sheilas’ Wheels]

Need to see pics really mate to give a guide price.

As for your steering, no bloody idea! Sounds a bit odd to me.

 

[MrMark]

jack the side up and see how freely the rear left wheel spins.

You could have damaged something there.#

Other than that, get all wheel tracking done at ATS or Kwik fit etc.. and see if it fixes it.


Does it pull if you release the steering wheel going along a straight road?

 

[Cezney]

Sorry, the pictures are awful, if you need something better i can give it a go in the morning, at the moment the dent is really hard to show.




Nope, it doesn't pull at all, its perfectly happy to go in a straight line, but when it does the steering wheel is where it should be when taking a gentle right hand turn at low speed.

 

[AlexS]

On a Clio I had the steering wheel was on the piss, didn't pull but straight ahead was about 2 o clock on the wheel.
Was glad to see the back of that heap!

 

[Cezney]

On a Clio I had the steering wheel was on the piss, didn't pull but straight ahead was about 2 o clock on the wheel.
Was glad to see the back of that heap!

Did you look into getting it sorted at all before you sold it? any idea where the problem lay?

 

[kic]

respray on quarter and bumper i'd say around £300+, that steering problems crazy as you hit the rear and if its not pulling in a straight line, take the steering wheel off and centre it ????

 

[AlexS]

On a Clio I had the steering wheel was on the piss, didn't pull but straight ahead was about 2 o clock on the wheel.
Was glad to see the back of that heap!

Did you look into getting it sorted at all before you sold it? any idea where the problem lay?

You can't re-centre the wheel apparently it has to be adjusted the other end as it where, perfectly doable for a mechanic, im not really sure how it happened in the case of yours though.

 

[Cezney]

Cheapest body shop quote to get this sorted was £400 - £450. They need the car for 4 days aswell :dapprove: . Still got no idea whats happened to the steering, going for a 4 wheel tracking check on monday.

 

[kic]

unlucky mate, hope you can afford to sort this, i'am just after paying £850 excess (well my brother did but i'am paying him back) so i know how you feel and its sh!t

 

[kic]

ooooopppppps

 

[ditz]

you will have bent the rear axle beam, its the only thing that can happen and cause the problem you have im afraid mate
get it on 4 wheel alignment that will show up the fault.

ideally you dont want to adjust the fault out in the front either - as you will find it will "crab" ie the car will drive sideways

 

[kic]

how hard did you hit it mate?

 

[Cezney]

thats just the thing, i didn't hit it hard at all, i was really suprised at the amount of damage when i got out of the car. i can't afford to get the scratches sorted, let alone bent axels

 

[kic]

clios mate there made from tin foil to protect the driver unfortunatly not your wallet also

 

[cK]

not adjustable on the back... might just need rebalancing... but buckled wheel is my first guess, then rear hub, rear beam.

 

[Chris_Cliomk1]

Have u checked ur tyre pressure in ur front tyres, u never know they mite have been low for a while which is causing the dogy steering and u may just be noticing it more now cause ur thinkin about it too much.

 

[Cezney]

you will have bent the rear axle beam, its the only thing that can happen and cause the problem you have im afraid mate
get it on 4 wheel alignment that will show up the fault.

ideally you dont want to adjust the fault out in the front either - as you will find it will "crab" ie the car will drive sideways

Unfortunately your right. Rear axle is bent 9mm, i'm really gutted. I can't afford to sort the problem anymore. Whats the cheapest way for me to source a rear axle (scrappy?) and how involved is it to fit one. My garage wants 400 quid to find and fit, i can source my own atm for 125 quid (i think thats what they're offering for the money anyway), but the garage won't fit second hand.