Ok guys need some help here.

Last Friday, while I was driving over one of those folding bollards, it hit the subframe, missing my sump by mm! I was only doing 3-4 mph but it stopped the car dead. I've since had it over the pit at work and it's damaged quite badly, and the n/s wishbone is now slightly fouling the subrame. There's now also a hefty 'clonk' on full left lock and some grinding noise on full lock in reverse.

Has anyone damaged this before?

Does anyone know where I might be able to find one?

Are they expensive new?!

Is it gonna be a nightmare to change?!

I'll try find a picture with the bit in question in it...

:(

I *think* the subframe alone is at least £150 I'm afraid.

If it's just a twisted wishbone then you may get away with the bone + bushes. I made a right mess of mine in the winter snow by hitting a kerb, lots of stuff got bent and the wishbone collapsed absorbing the impact so the subframe survived. From the way you describe it your drive shaft, tracking arm, hub and bearing have survived with no impact.

My only serious concern is that if it stopped you dead, and struck the sub frame you may have wrapped the point where the subframe attaches to the shell / chassis.

I'm not a mechanic and have no idea about this stuff though, just what I picked up when I damaged mine. Lots of people replied to my thread with helpful comments though, and i posted pictures.. so if it helps it's here.

http://briskoda.net/fabia-i/i-hit-kerb-too-not-so-lucky/136484/

Edited 11 June, 200917 yr by reflex88

:iagree: - You need to get on to your insurance because there's a real possibility of a bent shell or subframe mount, and it needs a competent bodyshop to check properly.

Nah it's not the wishbone, as far as I'm aware at the moment it's just the Subframe, I'm a mechanic myself but I havn't had the time/oppourtunity to have a proper look yet. BUT! £150 new sounds incredibly resonable, as it's a fair lump of metal! I'll try changing the subframe and if more problems occur I think I'm going to have to get it properly looked at, maybe with my insurance:(

At that rate I'd say to get the new subframe, and offer it up against the underside of the car. If it doesn't align right with the chassis mountings, then suspect a bent chassis.

At that rate I'd say to get the new subframe, and offer it up against the underside of the car. If it doesn't align right with the chassis mountings, then suspect a bent chassis.

I'd agree with that - if a fresh one bolts striaght up then i'd say you'd have nothing to worry about but if the holes on the fresh one don't line up then it's gonna want to see the jig.

Does it drive straight enough??

If £150 sounds cheap it may well be more.. I didn't need a subframe so never saw the cost on paper.. just what my Mechanic said it would probably be. The £150 was almost certainly ex vat, and (if they do it on sub frames) could have been on an exchange?

Lummox (Ross) would more than likely have a much better idea on cost of this item as I'm sure I've read on here's he's bought one before.. may have been used though.

I'd agree with that - if a fresh one bolts striaght up then i'd say you'd have nothing to worry about but if the holes on the fresh one don't line up then it's gonna want to see the jig.

Does it drive straight enough??

Yeah drives straight enough and pulls up straight on the brakes. Steering wheels a bit squint though, and it's vibrating but that's most likely the ARB bushes, as Awesome are taking mickey with my new ones:mad: However today it wouldn't turn left round a corner, as if the rack was stuck, then it just went:confused: Need to look into it properly at work tomorrow and check everything properly.