This lunchtime, at about 1 PM, I was driving my vrs through an ice rink disguised as a housing estate, and had a horrible 'foot on the brakes, still accelerating' type incident. This caused me to run the front right wheel into the kerb, sideways at between 5 and 10 mph.

The car drives OK, but the steering wheel is turned to the left* about 1/6 of a turn when the car is going straight. The car doesn't seem to pull to one side.

I know I've donald - ducked the alloy, but what else might I have bent?

PS I only drove it the 1/2 a mile back home, very slowly.

* it be turned to the right

you may have bent the track rod arm. does it drive straight when you let go of the wheel?

I'd take it to the closest tyre type place, have them check the tyre and also the tracking.

Definately get your tracking checked mate. They should be able to tell you if anything else is damaged while they're doing your tracking. It must be really cold up Aberdeen way today, its mild and rainy here in Glasgow. Great weather for keeping your car clean :(

Definitely go to a tyre place and might be worth investing in some tyres with rim protectors next time round If the alloy took the brunt of the knock, I reckon you'll just need the tracking tweaked.......

Chris

Firstly, thanks so much for all your replies.

The alloy is rather well kerbed, but I'm sure it will do as a spare. I'll take the car along to a tyre place and get the tracking etc. checked tomorrow, and will report back then.

I doubt a rim protectior would have helped.:(

I doubt a rim protectior would have helped.:(

Speaking from experience of a similar incident, it did - tyre will likely need replacing, but generally that's cheaper than a new alloy

Chris

Excuse my ignorance, but what is a 'rim protector'?

Excuse my ignorance, but what is a 'rim protector'?

Strip of rubber on the rim edge of the tyre which in theory should protect the rim from kerb damage. It tends to be pretty ineffective on low profile tyres though.

jason knows all about "rim protection" :P

unlucky it is the season to becareful!

Had the car to an alignment place today, the right hand track rod is bent. The alloy is kerbed, and the tyre is fine.

So, where do I get a track rod from? Eurocarparts? Local stealer? Local motor factors?

Fitting it isn't a problem.

Cheers, and phew!

Nick

If it's what I had to replace on my Fabia (wear and tear item apparently) it'll be about

I take it there are no pitfalls to refitting, after all a track rod's a track rod isn't it?

Anyone know how many torques I need to use when putting it back on?

quick question , is the track rod or the track rod end bent ? i ask this as they are two totally different things , one screws onto the other , but one is part of the rack

if it is the end bent , the track rod end may not come with a new Nylock nut , make sure you ask for one

I think it's the rod, but I'm getting rod and end together. The balljoint is sitting 'off' compared with the other side, so I'm going to be safe rather than sorry.

I do get a new nylock.

Cheers.

Ah it was just the track rod end on mine that was worn (IIRC), but I can't remember if they came separately or had to be replaced together and I no longer have the invoice. I do remember that the part ordered was about 70 quid though