Jumped a curb today in my car, need some mechanical advice

[KingNothing]

I have a 95 Geo Prizm, 5 speed. I was on a twisty 4-lane road with a giant median in the middle I took a curve too fast, hit some black ice, lost control, did some wide fishtailing and then my whole car ended up on the median. I was probably going about 45 mph when the trouble started.

I'm pretty sure the car was still in gear when it came to a stop since the car stalled. I drove the car off the median to my parents house just fine and then left it there for ~5 hours while we went to my aunt's for thanksgiving. I checked the tire pressure before and after, and I don't think any of my tires are losing pressure. Right now the car is parked in a clean spot at my dorm so I'll check it tomorrow morning to see if I'm losing any fluids. The outside of the car looks fine.

I drove the car on the highway and there was some rattle in the steering wheel. The car also pulls to the right some during driving, but it brakes in a straight line. I'm going to take it in for an alignment as soon as possible. My questions are:

1) Would anything other than a misalignment be causing the steering rattle and pull?
2) If the mechanic puts my car up on a jack, will he be able to eyeball my suspension components to see if anything's bent or cracked?
3) Is there anything else I should check for damage?

 

[NutBucket]

Have your frame aligned. Take it to a shop that has a rack on which the car is placed for alignment. Then, if the car still drives funny after the alignment, then obviously something got tweaked.

 

[KingNothing]

Originally posted by: NutBucket
Have your frame aligned. Take it to a shop that has a rack on which the car is placed for alignment. Then, if the car still drives funny after the alignment, then obviously something got tweaked.

Is this different from a wheel alignment? I've never heard of a frame alignment.

 

[NutBucket]

A frame alignment checks that the frame of the car is still square. I know its kinda of inaccurate since your car doesn't have a frame, but it will still check that the 4 wheels are square to each other. Its a far more accurate alignment rather then a standard 2-wheel alignment that just adjusts your car to drive straight. I think if you find a place that advertises a "4 wheel computerized alignment" that should do the trick.

 

[KingNothing]

Originally posted by: NutBucket
A frame alignment checks that the frame of the car is still square. I know its kinda of inaccurate since your car doesn't have a frame, but it will still check that the 4 wheels are square to each other. Its a far more accurate alignment rather then a standard 2-wheel alignment that just adjusts your car to drive straight. I think if you find a place that advertises a "4 wheel computerized alignment" that should do the trick.

Yeah, the last time I had an alignment done it was a "4 wheel computerized alignment".

 

[HappyPuppy]

You might just have a bent wheel rim. Jack the car up and spin the wheels with a straight edge next to them. If it's pulling to the right it's probably the right front whee. Been there, done that.

 

[Vette73]

Gte a 4 wheel aligment from a good place and have your tires balanced. If it drives fine and the person doing thr aligment does not find anything , then you should be good to go.

 

[isekii]

Originally posted by: HappyPuppy
You might just have a bent wheel rim. Jack the car up and spin the wheels with a straight edge next to them. If it's pulling to the right it's probably the right front whee. Been there, done that.

yea I agree

the rim is probably bent..

and your alignment is off..

I dont think you should fix the rim i'm pretty sure it's the steel wheels on the geo prizm maybe you can buy a new one off a vendor that sells em

steel wheels are around 50 bucks each not even..

 

[KingNothing]

Originally posted by: isekii

Originally posted by: HappyPuppy
You might just have a bent wheel rim. Jack the car up and spin the wheels with a straight edge next to them. If it's pulling to the right it's probably the right front whee. Been there, done that.

yea I agree

the rim is probably bent..

and your alignment is off..

I dont think you should fix the rim i'm pretty sure it's the steel wheels on the geo prizm maybe you can buy a new one off a vendor that sells em

steel wheels are around 50 bucks each not even..

Actually my prizm has factory alloy wheels.

 

[lowtech1]

Jack it up and check the wheel for any tear or bumb (hernia) in the tires.

 

[KingNothing]

Originally posted by: lowtech
Jack it up and check the wheel for any tear or bumb (hernia) in the tires.

My tires aren't losing pressure though...wouldn't they be if there was a tear?

 

This is what you do in order;

(1)Check all four rims for bent beads (Where the tires meet the metal)
(2)Check all four rims for runout (Bent rims)<------ Most likely
(3)Check front lower ball joints for damage
(4)Check both front lower control arms for damage (These are easily damaged because they are manufactured from stamped sheet metal)
(5)Check for damaged front struts
(6)Check for damgaged tie rod ends and steering rack
(7)After all these inspections, have a four wheel thrust alignment done

Do basically the same inspections for the rear suspension.

Edit;

Check all four tires for broken sidewalls. <------- Most likely