[2013Pro4X]

A few days ago I was stopped at the exit of a shopping center waiting to make a left and a 90s Plymouth Voyager attempted to enter the shopping center turning right, but was unsuccessful in negotiating the turn.

No one was hurt and the driver had insurance so from that prospective it turned out fine.







Some contact was made with the LF wheel/tire, but I don’t think the brunt of the impact was there, but the steering wheel is off when driving straight (above), and even by my naked eye, I can tell the left wheel has some slight negative camber and I have a toe out condition. It is not drastic but it is visible.

I am still a little confused about the adjustable camber bolt 'topic' because I haven’t done a lift yet (I am familiar with vehicles that have metal shims in the upper control arm, these bolts are new to me). If I am told that an alignment will fix it, do I need to reject that and insist the bent part be replaced because it can’t be aligned properly without these bolts? The frame could also be bent I suppose.

I will be taking it in in a few days to the body shop, and I have to assume they know what they are doing, but I still appreciate any and all suggestions you fine CF members can recommend, that I put on my list to tell/ask them.

 

[FFTR]

- Have your alignment checked. If you steering wheel is now off, the impact had to knock something out.

 

[Izerous]

I'd almost bet that your tie rod is bent.

 

[upflying]

That big sidewall scuff indicates a good hit on the suspension. Insist on OEM Nissan body parts.

 

[bobus8]

Sorry about your mishap man. Be sure that if you have parts that are bent that they get replaced even if an adjustment can put it back in spec.

 

[JDwoodworker92]

Sorry to hear. Judging from the pics and what you describe, it sounds like it bent the tie rod & possibly even a control arm. Hopefully it all works out good for ya!

Sent from my SM-G360V using Tapatalk

 

[Zedbra]

Now's a good of time as any to add that lift. ::grin:: Glad no one was seriously hurt.

 

[2013Pro4X]

Thanks everyone. I am going to pull the tire this weekend, take some pictures and do whatever inspecting I can and then take it in next Tuesday.

That big sidewall scuff indicates a good hit on the suspension. Insist on OEM Nissan body parts.

This is why you ask questions on this forum. Asking for OEM parts was not on my list, as I haven't been through this before and I thought that was assumed or done automatically. Thank you upflying.

 

[shift_RUSH]

Just say no to putty/bondo. You'll end up w/ little pucker marks showing up in the paint a few years down the road. NEW Nissan panels...there is no substitute. Be firm with the other party's insurance adjuster.

 

[The other Sean]

Just say no to putty/bondo. You'll end up w/ little pucker marks showing up in the paint a few years down the road. NEW Nissan panels...there is no substitute. Be firm with the other party's insurance adjuster.

Even a new OEM panel may require a little filler in a spot or two to be perfectly straight. Many OEM replacement panels are actually panels that were not quite good enough to be put on a new vehicle, but good enough for a run through a body shop. When used properly, a thin bit of filler is fine. When used improperly, yes, it goes as you described.

But, an OEM panel is going to be better out of the gate than some off shore cheapo.

 

[bobus8]

Even a new OEM panel may require a little filler in a spot or two to be perfectly straight. When used properly, a thin bit of filler is fine. When used improperly, yes, it goes as you described.

WHAT!!! You mean that I shouldn't pack on putty a half inch thick and pat it smooth with my fingers and leave it that way?
:laugh:

 

[FrontierSE4x4]

Gotta love driving around the capital region. Every day to work I feel like I am in Nascar race the way people swerve and cut me off. Any idea where you will be having the truck worked on? Leahy's from what I hear does great work. They are right down the road from me.
https://www.facebook.com/LeahysAutoBody/

 

[2013Pro4X]

I took my tire off over the weekend, and yep, there's a tie rod attached (I wouldn't know a bent one if it hit me in the head).



and I took it in for an estimate yesterday. They will use all Nissan OEM parts so I'm happy about that. He couldn't comment or estimate on the suspension until they get the wheel off in the shop.

Gotta love driving around the capital region. Every day to work I feel like I am in Nascar race the way people swerve and cut me off. Any idea where you will be having the truck worked on? Leahy's from what I hear does great work. They are right down the road from me.
https://www.facebook.com/LeahysAutoBody/

Thanks for the recommendation. I work halfway between York and Harrisburg and happened to take it in yesterday to a place in York. (I'm not going to mention the name in case they suck, wouldn't want anyone else going there in the meantime)

 

[bobus8]

Since you say the tire looks like it has negative camber and you need to turn the steering wheel to the right to get the truck to go straight, I would suspect that something with the upper control arm is amiss. When you get the vehicle repaired, you may want to check that area to see if they replaced the upper or straightened out the frame in that area. (Or, just ask them what they found)

 

[2013Pro4X]

Since you say the tire looks like it has negative camber and you need to turn the steering wheel to the right to get the truck to go straight, I would suspect that something with the upper control arm is amiss. When you get the vehicle repaired, you may want to check that area to see if they replaced the upper or straightened out the frame in that area. (Or, just ask them what they found)

Thanks, will do. I typed up a one page document and I told the estimator guy to put it in my file. It said a) I'm not in a rush, I'm keeping this truck forever, so take as long as you need b) Please find and replace the bent suspension component and not just attempt to align it.

I'm dropping it off for the repairs next Monday. Fortunately (or unfortunately) I have experience with this body shop because my wife's car was repaired there because someone hit her a few years ago. I thought they did brilliant work down to matching the paint spray texture, as I could not find the blend points. There was no mechanical damage to hers though, so I don't know how well they will handle this stuff.

I don't see why they would be under any incentive to cut corners or save money and just try to align it, since insurance is paying for it, but I really don't understand the process that well.

 

[bobus8]

It sounds like you have a good shop. It's just that there seem to be so many shops out there will try to take you to the cleaners. Hopefully all will turn out well.

 

[2013Pro4X]

Update. I received a voice mail from the shop today. The truck is reassembled and going to the paint shop now. They replaced the left fender, door panel (skin), mud guard, and fender liner with Nissan parts. The voice mail then said when it is finished with paint, they will take it to be aligned.

I called them back and reiterated that it is out of alignment because of an impact and they should do a thorough inspection for the cause. They said it is standard practice to locate and replace any damaged parts, and then align, so that made me feel better about it.

 

[bobus8]

They said it is standard practice to locate and replace any damaged parts, and then align, so that made me feel better about it.

Sounds like things are looking up. Glad to hear they replaced the door skin and fender. So much better than loading on the mud. Looks like they'll replace any needed suspension parts too.

:thumbsup:

 

[2013Pro4X]

Just updating and closing out this thread I received the truck back from the shop a week ago. Pretty happy with the results.



The wheel was refinished.



From the hood, here is a pic of the stock passenger fender, flat black and you can read the Nissan stamp.



Drivers fender, gloss black and the paint is thick and it almost entirely fills in the Nissan stamp.


Anyone will be able to tell the fender was replaced/painted by opening the hood but that doesn't bother me as I'm guessing the paint is twice as thick as original (and I plan on keeping the truck long enough that it won't make much difference in resale value). Also the texture of spray pattern matches extremely well with the rest of the paint.

They said they did a thorough inspection of the suspension and said there was nothing damaged, although it was out of alignment and the toe was out. They showed me the specific alignment results, but I did not ask for a copy (probably should have). Steering wheel is straight and the truck does not pull under coasting or heavy braking.

 

[Clint]

Thanks for the follow up on this situation, all to often we only get half a story, enjoy the truck.

Clint