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What would cause this car problem and how much would it cost?

wasssup

Diamond Member
I just found out my girlfriend seems to have had an accident sometime yesterday...she skid off the road (her brakes supposedly locked up) and the front/left wheel slammed head-on onto a curb @ 35mph...she said it was driveable (she drove it to campus), but to make it go straight she has to steer left and steering right is a bit heavy.

I know it can be any number of things that are wrong, but does anyone have any intuitive guesses? Any idea as to how expensive it can get? (she didn't report it to insurance)
 
Sounds like she bent some of the steering linkage and/or suspension components.

The cost can vary greatly depending on the amount of damage, but I would guess less than a thousand even if you have to rebuild the entire front end.
 
She hit a curb at 35mph? :Q

At the very least, the alignment is screwed. Depending on the car, that'll cost anywhere from $30-$70.

More likely though, some major suspension components got damaged, along with probably the tire and wheel. Is there any shaking, like on the freeway or under braking? She should get it looked at right away. She might want to call her insurance after all... 🙁
 
Originally posted by: Skoorb
$517 + tax. Exactly.

😀

Well I just asked her about the shaking, and she said she doesn't think so (though she doesn't notice a lot of things while driving, so who really knows)

Yeah, 35mph...the brakes on her maxima seem to be messed up...when she brakes, it doesn't brake smoothly: it keeps jerking till it finally stops (she says she tapped the brakes lightly while we had snow/ice outside and the brakes kept jerking/locking up so she kept going straight).

As for calling the insurance company, isn't it too late? I really don't know how insurance works, but I thought if you don't file a police report and immediately call the insurance company you kinda lose that option?
 
At the very least her wheel would have gotten damaged and really bent. I'm surprised her tire did not burn out. At that speed there probably is no way to bang out that wheel either so that would have to be replaced. Should get the suspension checked.
 
Originally posted by: wasssup
when she brakes, it doesn't brake smoothly: it keeps jerking till it finally stops (she says she tapped the brakes lightly while we had snow/ice outside and the brakes kept jerking/locking up so she kept going straight).

sounds like severely warped brake disks. my mom's volvo tends to do this after she's been driving on a set of disks for a while. she's the most brutal braker i've ever seen. waits until the last second and then POUNDS them, and seems unable to adjust her driving habits even though she know's she's trashing the disks.

after she's warped a new set, braking feels like ::jerk-jerk-jerk-jerk::
 
What is the Year, Make, and Model?

Somethings she may have damnaged...

1. bent rim
2. Bent control arm
3. Damaged Strut
4. Damaged Ball joint
5. Damaged tie rod
6. etc.......................

Cost will depend on amount of damage and labor rate of the shop.
 
Its an older maxima...I don't remember what year it is (its the model that they stopped in '94)

Well we went down to R&S Strauss, and they came back and told us everything checked out fine, other than the alignment and two ball joints (whatever that is) had to be replaced...total cost would be $225 out the door.

I dunno if she got ripped off or not with that quote, but since its kinda hectic with finals I suggested she just get this one problem out of the way..
 
I was just going to suggest that you take it to a shop that does front end alignment and only suggest that you think it's out of alignment (rather than give them the option to be over-zealous after hearing a story about 35mph into a curb). 225 really doesn't sound that bad.
 
What would cause this car problem and how much would it cost?

Female driver (j\k)

It sounds like there was an issue w/ the brakes already that needs to be fixed, assuming that the front end can be fixed at all. Can't rule out a bent frame either.
 
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