Bang.. Wheel Allignment?

Hey guys, the other day it snowed over 1 foot, i HAD to get to work, and long story short i slammed into a pole sideways. it smashed my hubcap into 2 and was left on the road, my right sideview mirror popped out, and left a decent black streak on my quarter panel :( Im not sure exactly where it hit because it was white everywhere, snow kicked up and i cudnt see. Im thinking it hit on the wheel because i dont see how it cud bust into 2 and come over the fake nuts on the hubcaps.. Anyways i think the wheel alignment is a little off now, is there any better way to tell? It was rumbling on the highway at only like 105km/h, but it got better since i got the snow out of my steelies etc. The only thing i notice now is that i have to hold my wheel to the right a little bit when driving, its not horrible but u can tell its not exactly centered. If i straighten the wheel on the highway and let go of the wheel it veers left a tiny bit, hence i have to told the wheel right a bit. Is this grounds for a wheel alignment or should i wait until the snow clears out and go into further testing? could that be because i have ice/snow built up in my undercarriage and behind tires etc?

I gotta goto pick ur part and get a new hubcap and mirror now :banghead:

Anyone know? It is definately off center the wheel has to be held to the right, its annoying.

If it is annoying get your alignment done, it definately sound like it is out if you have to hold the wheel off center to go straight.

Ok, how much does a 2 wheel allignment go for? i went to pick ur part to get a new hubcap etc. But i looked closely at the rim, the steel got bent a tad, just the little lip on the wheel a part of it got bent in but it means nothing to the rim, just that it got hit hard enuf to knock the alignment off im guessing.

I think it was $70 canadian for me to get mine done.

You could have bent the strut,bent the inner tie rod link,distorted the strut tower,damaged the inner link end bushings,or something else.The bent rim bead is not safe.The rim should be replaced.As should the tire.Taking a direct shot on a wheel assy can cause lots of damage not readily visible.Also have the ball joint checked.It could have been put under a lot of stress too and might be loose now,as could lower control arm bushings.

yeah theres 1000 things you could have done but an alignment would be a good start, the tire place i go to charges $40 for an alignment, so it shouldnt be much more then $50, depends on where ya live too i guess

You could have bent the strut,bent the inner tie rod link,distorted the strut tower,damaged the inner link end bushings,or something else.The bent rim bead is not safe.The rim should be replaced.As should the tire.Taking a direct shot on a wheel assy can cause lots of damage not readily visible.Also have the ball joint checked.It could have been put under a lot of stress too and might be loose now,as could lower control arm bushings.

:uhoh: Holy crap lets hope its not to serious, its been driving fine, i called and its 70 CAN for an allignment. They would tell me if they see something anyways so..

dont mention the damage when you take it there, ask them after their done, who knows what they could "find" wrong knowing that you've rammed it into a curb

Thanks ill do that, im also taking it to a local store in my small town, people say hes good and trustworthy. He said if they need to replace "shims" he will let me know before he does, what do the shims do and how could they have got damaged? Thanks

Well my appointment is set up for tommorow, lets hope it goes well, he said he would let me know if they find anything or need to replace shims before they install anything. Its definately off tho, i cranked my wheel all the way and turned and the wheel goes boop..............boop............. like its slipping so :(

I think it was $70 canadian for me to get mine done.

Thats about $2.65 US:grinno: