Hit A Pothole
11-24-2001, 04:09 PM
#1
Drifting
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Hit A Pothole
Now my steering wheel shakes back and forth, and the car pulls a little to the left (I hit on the left side).
I am going to pull the wheel and have it inspected by a wheel shop. Also, I am going to inspect my front suspension pieces.
Is there anything that I should look for specifically? Is there a common mode of failure on our cars?
I am going to pull the wheel and have it inspected by a wheel shop. Also, I am going to inspect my front suspension pieces.
Is there anything that I should look for specifically? Is there a common mode of failure on our cars?
11-24-2001, 06:39 PM
#2
Three Wheelin'
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Well, dunno how hard you hit, but likely worst case is wheel shake from a bent rim, and pull from a tie-rod or other alignment problem.
Other le$$er possibilities include shake from knocking balance weights off, & pull to one side from partial deflation of the tire during impact (been there, done that, got the t-shirt).
If the wheel shake is at pretty much all speeds, including slow, the rim is bent.
FWIW (little, probably), I've heard of people recovering $$ damages from the city responsible for the street when an outrageously big pothole ate part of their car. We're supposed to expect the little ones; they're responsible for fixing the big ones before they get that big.
Of course, I've also got a friend who claims his Bug died on impact in a pothole, and got paved over before he could get it moved
....
Jim, with sympathy...
Other le$$er possibilities include shake from knocking balance weights off, & pull to one side from partial deflation of the tire during impact (been there, done that, got the t-shirt).
If the wheel shake is at pretty much all speeds, including slow, the rim is bent.
FWIW (little, probably), I've heard of people recovering $$ damages from the city responsible for the street when an outrageously big pothole ate part of their car. We're supposed to expect the little ones; they're responsible for fixing the big ones before they get that big.
Of course, I've also got a friend who claims his Bug died on impact in a pothole, and got paved over before he could get it moved
....Jim, with sympathy...
11-24-2001, 06:46 PM
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Drifting
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Originally posted by jim968:
<STRONG>FWIW (little, probably), I've heard of people recovering $$ damages from the city responsible for the street when an outrageously big pothole ate part of their car. We're supposed to expect the little ones; they're responsible for fixing the big ones before they get that big.</STRONG>
<STRONG>FWIW (little, probably), I've heard of people recovering $$ damages from the city responsible for the street when an outrageously big pothole ate part of their car. We're supposed to expect the little ones; they're responsible for fixing the big ones before they get that big.</STRONG>
11-24-2001, 07:24 PM
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11-24-2001, 08:08 PM
#5
Nordschleife Master
Man, if that isn't some goofy camera angle, that is really bent bad. No wonder the car shook. I'd now be concerned that the alloy can be straightened without work hardening it. And if the tire can be trusted again.
I've got the ultimate pot hole story.
Happened in Costa Rica. Driving along a paved highway and saw a big puddle. Drove through ~ 10 or 15 mph and dropped the front end down about 3 1/2 feet! The rental car didn't run so good after that. 
I've got the ultimate pot hole story.
Happened in Costa Rica. Driving along a paved highway and saw a big puddle. Drove through ~ 10 or 15 mph and dropped the front end down about 3 1/2 feet! The rental car didn't run so good after that.
11-25-2001, 08:02 AM
#7
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I bent two rims on my previous car about three years ago. A week a part on the same road. If anyone has ever had to drive 295 in DC in the spring time they could understand how that could happen. One was soo bad that it wouldn't hold air. I had them repaired at a shop in Maryland, the bad one had to be cut and welded (luckily it was on the inner lip). They both were repaired to like new and I never had a shake from them.
So it looks like that rim should be repairable. If your in the area (DC) I'll get you they name of the shop.
Edit (duh, just saw that you were from Portland)
So it looks like that rim should be repairable. If your in the area (DC) I'll get you they name of the shop.
Edit (duh, just saw that you were from Portland)
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11-26-2001, 02:59 AM
#8
Burning Brakes
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If anyone wants rims I've got the stock 15"x8" teledials from my car. I'm refinishing them, so if you want they could be done up in a custom color (they used to be chrome) Oh yeah, I'll give em with pirelli p500s (assimetricos with about 75% left). I saw the same kind painted glossy white on a lowered white 944 with a "turbo look" kit. Looked pretty nice.
