Car Accident Re Hitting The Kerb...

[dunnitall]

Advice please. Hit the kerb in the car at a pace, but still drive able. Noticed near side wheel where it hit the metal is buckled into wheel for about 2.5 inches or less. No tyre damage but asked if motoring assistance did a safety check on car for any other potential damage but they don't. Can anyone advise apart from getting new wheel on that side, if car should have thorough safety check in case there's other damage to it? Should It be taken to main dealer (car six yrs old) for steering etc but don't want to be ripped off with them saying work needed when it's not. Thanks in advance for your advice.

[sunny-dave]

Is it an alloy or a steel wheel?

Either way it can probably be re-furbed for much less than the cost of a new one.

Actually my first step would be to go to my local Formula 1 - they will check it for you and may well know someone who could fix the wheel as well.

http://www.f1autocentres.co.uk/

Then get them to track/balance the wheel after it's fixed.

[dunnitall]

Thanks Dave, it's ordinary wheel so will get that checked out, but I did wonder about steering and shock absorbers etc, thought the main dealer would check those and wheel out. No doubt will cost a packet but better be safe than sorry eh.

[sunny-dave]

F1 are usually very thorough (and honest) - the Rugby and Leicester branches have done most of my servicing/tyres etc for a while now - I'm sure they could check suspension and shockers for you.

[tonyav]

dunnitall, get the track rod end and ball joint to the steering rack checked on the wheel that hit the kerb. You don't have to use a main stealership, you could use any garage to get it checked out.

[dunnitall]

Thanks Dave and Tony, will do everything needed as I think it important to check these things out especially as it was at speed although tyre not burs nor airbags deployed.

[Gizmonster]

I actually did the same thing a few years ago - skidded on some ice and hit the pavement. The card drove fine, so I thought nothing of it, until I drove on the motorway and the steering wheel started vibrating at speeds over 60 mph ish - indicating that the wheel needed re-balancing. I thought I must have knocked some of the weights off, that are used to balance the wheel, when I collided with the kerb.
I took it into a local Kwik Fit and it turned out the wheel was actually buckled slightly .... £50 for a second hand alloy (not from Kwik Fit).
If it drives fine, you should be ok - just hope you haven't buckled your wheel though :(

[chas2008]

ideally it should have a 4 wheel alignment/geometry check, only way to be 100% certain,even if you cant actually see any damage it will show up on a report if anything suspension wise is bent or out of line.
As a body shop we geometry EVERY vehicle that has wheel damage due to a collision/accident .
Insurances companies insist on it and believe me they wont pay for anything they dont think is neccessary.