Collision Help Needed
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Collision Help Needed
Posted: April 23 2007 07:12 PM
 
Jay Bourgraf (aka Jaybird) [ View ] [ jaybird@isoc.net ] [ Car Ads ] [ Blogs ]
Cincinnati, Ohio
(513) 941-7445
 
Well, over the weekend, we were sideswiped while riding in the Roadster. Everyone is ok. Coulda been ugly. We took a driver side direct lateral "shot" from someone trying to pass us in a center turn lane. We were knocked a minimum of 4 ft into the next lane. It was a hard hit. They bounced off of our rear tires, but the front took a hit to the wheel and cap. The wheel is ground up and the hubcap is smashed. I've have no experience with Hot Rod wrecks....YES! So, aside from checking the obvious, like replacing the wheel studs, checking the Buick drums for cracks, replacing the spring u-bolts, etc., is there anything else that I need to have looked at? I did a quick top down check and from the top I see no cracks in paint at the exposed frame welds. I'll look farther after I get it up in the air. Would a frame rack in a body shop be able to tell me if the frame has been tweaked or do I need to find someone with a laser rack or plum bobs or??? I think the hit to the front axle tweaked the alignment. Seems to drive ok but the wheels apear to be towed outa bit. Should the spindles and axle be magnafluxed or just tossed and replaced? Slap me if I sound like I'm too anal about this.....I just don't wanna be cruising somewhere on the highway and have a major suspension falure from a crack or something.
 
 
 
Comments
 
Posted by DavyJ  -  04/23/2007 07:36 PM
Get a dial indicator and magnetic base, set it up to see if there is any runout on the axle flange, front and rear. That will tell you if the axle mounting flange got tweaked or not. Looks like you were extremely lucky, could have been really nasty if any cars were in the other lane.If the other guy is covering it get a 4 wheel laser alignment. If not get out the plumb bob and chalk, make a mark on floor from the side walls of tires. Check toe in measurements and parallel for front to back alignment
Still driving the wife's car, cause I am slow. [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Niagara Falls, Canada Charter Member since February 2005
 
Posted by da34guy  -  04/23/2007 08:09 PM
I'll 2nd what davyJ said, plus and 1 thing---SH*TCAN the spindle and put another 1 on. Of course if the guy who hit ya has got insurance -get it to a Frame shop with a laser setup and shoot it and replace both spindles , as ya can only buy them in sets, also change all the bearings. Good Luck
Don [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Prescott, Arizona Charter Member since October 2001
 
Posted by dixie  -  04/23/2007 08:41 PM
Hey Jaybird listen to these guys & do as they said. had one something like that didn't check everything guess what ,trouble down the road and i all ready signed off yep pay the man. I'm sure you have ins so get it all replaced.
jim grace [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] dade city, Florida Charter Member since January 2006
 
Posted by Jaybird  -  04/23/2007 09:30 PM
Just put it up and checked it over. Man, I took a hit. I agree totally with the above. I just did a full Spring check over on it, a couple of weeks ago, and everything was cool. Now the left front kingpin has picked up a ton of play. The bore is stretched. The wheel flexed and made contact with the brake drum outer hub and, somehow the tire momentarily made contact with the headlight. There is runout in both the tire and rim. I'm concerned about the rearend. That took the brunt of the hit. Hopefully the tire absorbed it. I'm gonna button it up and finding a rack. Insurance rep is fabulous. Said he would take care of everything. DavyJ, there was another guy in the lane next to me!!! He was riding next to us checking the car out and saw everything happen IN REAL TIME!! He dove for the curb to give us room to land. The driver was from out of State, with a permit licence, It was a rental car and the rentee was in the passenger side (1 too many). At least they made the good decision to not let him drive. that could have been worse.
Jaybird [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Cincinnati, Ohio Charter Member since December 2003
 
Posted by BigAlBre  -  04/23/2007 09:37 PM
There are a lot of nut jobs, blind people, people high on something out there....you guy's be careful.... thank God no one was hurt...
Big Al sittin back pickin & grinning in paradise. [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Saint Petersburg Beach, Florida Charter Member since June 1999
 
Posted by Crazyhorse Rod Shop  -  04/24/2007 06:46 AM
my money is on a bent rear axle to start with , maybe a housing if it's a 4 bar. i would do some serious checking on the rear.
dont poke the porchdog........he bites [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] BLUFF DALE, Texas Charter Member since March 2003
 
Posted by Jaybird  -  04/24/2007 12:36 PM
Thanks Shine. The rear tire/wheel took out both of their doors and the rear wheel well on the quarter. It has the So-Cal rear 4-link setup which has the long bars that attach near the trans tailshaft. With that kind of leverage, I'm really worried about all the brackets being bent, and the housing flanges.
Jaybird [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Cincinnati, Ohio Charter Member since December 2003
 
Posted by Crazyhorse Rod Shop  -  04/24/2007 01:53 PM
i would replace the rear end housing. new axle for the drivers side, new bars and ends. thats a hard hit my friend. it's bound to have bent something.
dont poke the porchdog........he bites [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] BLUFF DALE, Texas Charter Member since March 2003
 
Posted by Jaybird  -  05/22/2007 06:48 AM
Guys Thanks AGAIN!!! Turned out the housing was bent, bearings crushed, wheels bent, spindles, brackets...yikes. Way worse than I thought. Parts are on order, but looks like I'm gonna be car-less for awhile until I can get afree spot in the garage.
Jaybird [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Cincinnati, Ohio Charter Member since December 2003
 
Posted by flagator79  -  05/22/2007 07:56 PM
Jaybird, Just to put my 2 cents worth in - please take your time and check everything out closely. I took for granted that a fella (supposed friend) was doing some front end work right for me and found, when I started my rebuild, that the front end had been put in 2 1/2 inches too far forward and the steering at the journal had literally been jammed in and wedged with a bolt. Could have killed me. Take your time and do it right - replace anything and everything that you think might have been compromised, even if it doesn't show it - could have torqued or moved and gone back into shape but weakened it in the process. Don't want ta loose you. I think that my point is (although I didn't have a wreck) that it may look right and be very wrong - assume nothing (word assume broken down - ass - u - me --if you assume, it can make an ass out of you and me) and in your case be very dangerous to boot!!
If the world was fair, the worm would eat the bird half the time [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] West Monroe, Louisianna Charter Member since December 2005
 
Posted by Jaybird  -  05/23/2007 09:35 AM
I appreciate it! I'm replacing all attaching hardware, spring u-bolts, nuts, bolts, spindles, steering arms, brackets,ladder bars, mounts.......not taking any chances. Having their door smashing into my car, about 2 inches from my arm, was enough excitement for me this year. I was down for the first three months of the year wih a crushed hand, from a stupid accident, and have no desire to ever get hurt again.


Leon, thanks for the call. You're world class in my book.


Al, the paint is Tangerine Orange. Don't have the paint codeyet, but I'll let you know as soon as I do.
Jaybird [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Cincinnati, Ohio Charter Member since December 2003
 
Posted by jimmothershead  -  05/24/2007 10:43 AM
Hay, Jay........Is that a I-beam front axle? If so, so way it is bent or cracked. Drop forged needs heat to alter.

Jim
Jim [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Huntingtown, Maryland
 
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