Coming together with a kerb

CITMAN · Unread post by **CITMAN** » 22 Jul 2003, 02:48

I just hit a curb in my citroen zx trying to avoid some prat in a laguna who was on my side of the road. I was doing 35 - 40 mph. I hit the curb fairly hard. The car appears to drive okay doesnt pull while driving and drives in straight line.
Do you think its worth while getting a garage to check it over i.e. left hand side suspension, steering etc. Or as the car appears to drive okay just leave it and hope for the best. I have had the wheel off had a quick look cant see anything bent or damaged apart from scruffed wheel trim and tyre, but I really dont know what im looking for in terms of impact damage.

AndersDK · Unread post by **AndersDK** » 22 Jul 2003, 03:43

If clearly no change is felt in steering & running from wheel - then you had your luck this time [;)]
Keep an extra eye on the tyre inflation the next couple of days - that's all.

Homer · Unread post by **Homer** » 22 Jul 2003, 06:37

It would be worth having the tracking checked, especially if you have a newish set of tyres on there.

mark_sp · Unread post by **mark_sp** » 22 Jul 2003, 08:04

It's unlikely that the tracking would change with an impact of this type but if the impact was severe enough the geometry could be changed although I would have expected it to be felt when driving. Periodic checking for irregular tyre wear is required.
Mark_sp

benj · Unread post by **benj** » 22 Jul 2003, 20:11

I HAD A VOLVO 440 AND HIT THE KURB AT ABOU TTHE SAME SPEED, I BENT A TRACK ROD END AND WHEN AT THE GARAGE THEY SNAPPED THE THREAD TRYING TO GET THE ROD END OF, SO I WOULD DISAGREE WITH MARK SP AND SAY IT IS VERY EASY TO DO A LOT OF DAMAGE WITH THIS TYPE OF IMPACT DEPENDING ON KURB SIZE. YOUR LUCKY.

mark_sp · Unread post by **mark_sp** » 22 Jul 2003, 22:11

Ben
I didn't say that that damage can't be done. What I understood the question to be was if it was necessary to get the tracking checked, the implication being that it may need adjusting as the impact could have knocked it out of adjustment. I stand by my statement that its not possible to knock the tracking out of adjustment in this way. As has been stated though it is possible to damage suspension components and to whack the geometry out of true, different thing altogether.
Mark_sp

Dave Burns · Unread post by **Dave Burns** » 23 Jul 2003, 03:21

If there is any damage to the rim it might be wise to stick a new tyre on if you use motorways and fast roads alot, there could be pinch damage to the carcase that nobody can see.
Like Anders says keep an eye on the pressure, and watch for any duck eggs (bulges) forming.
Dave

rabenson · Unread post by **rabenson** » 23 Jul 2003, 16:27

I would personally be tempted to get the tracking checked. If any damage has been done, you are far better finding out sooner rather than later, when your tyres start to show uneven wear.
Ron

adrianeaton · Unread post by **adrianeaton** » 23 Jul 2003, 19:05

I'd get it checked over for signs of any damage - but the very fact it's still tracking straight and true would indicate nothing has been bent....but there's always the chance something could be cracked or displaced that might then fall off at a later date.
As far as tracking goes, I've yet to find a garage that could accurately setup tracking without either knocking the steering wheel off to one side or making the car crab down the road - if it ain't broke (and if it's not pulling to one side at any speed, it's not) don't 'fix' it!!
Tyre dealers make a fortune out of 'resetting' tracking, and with the abuse the kit gets it's no wonder they can't get it right...
Adrian

Homer · Unread post by **Homer** » 26 Jul 2003, 15:50

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by mark_sp</i>

It's unlikely that the tracking would change with an impact of this type but if the impact was severe enough the geometry could be changed although I would have expected it to be felt when driving. Periodic checking for irregular tyre wear is required.
Mark_sp
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
I am just going by my own experience with a BX. Got forced over a small kerb once and didn't bother getting the tracking checked as all seemed fine and didn't want to shell out the few quid it would have cost. A few hundred miles later my nice new tyres needed replacing and I still had to have the tracking adjusted.[:(] Maybe it was something else that bent but having the tracking adjusted put it right.
It may be unlikely but the cost of new tyres is much more than the cost of having the tracking checked.
On a side note. I used to drive Mitsubishi L300 vans which were notorious for getting their tracking knocked out with the slightest touch of a kerb on full lock.