First accident with the BRZ :(
 

Hey Guys - Just wanted to get some input of that could have been wrong with my BRZ.

Last Thursday i was driving and hit a big pothole, it was dark so i did not see it on the road. I heard a big boom from the front driver side wheel area (which is the area where it took the hit) and i thought i broke something. I step out of the car and it seemed fine at that time. I check the tire pressure and it was good, not TPMS light came on or any other warning light on the dash.

I kept driving the car as normal but i felt like the steering wheel was pulling to the left so i had to firm grip the steering to keep driving. At that time, i thought it was because of the road surface so did not pay much attention.

The next day (which was yesterday) i was driving and while entering a tight shoulder to merge into the highway i lost control of the car and hit the curve hard. It was a hard hit but my girl and i were ok and no person or other car was hurt.

From what i can tell the rear and front driving wheels are damage, the sti side skirt is damage and sti lip is damage and the lower part of the bumper will likely need to be re-painted.

Also, after the accident, i was not able to turn my wheels. I turn the steering wheel in any direction but the front wheels do not move or turn anymore. I believe that likely the front axles/shaft are broken.

The car had to be towed to a impound until monday were my insurance Geico will take the car to the auto body shop that i requested. The car insurance is full cover so i just need to pay my deductive.

Good thing that no one was hurt, only the car is damage :cry:

Now im wondering..

Could that hit with the pothole weak some suspension part that cause the part to give up/break while i was entering the corner?

I was running Blizzak WS80 tires so those tires do not have the best grip in the dry road. These are not performance tires to my knowledge.

Geico will inspect the car tomorrow with the body shop and will give me a list of all the parts that needs to be repair and fixed.

Not sure how long they will take :(

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Yes, sounds like that initial hit may have damaged a tie rod and threw the alignment off. Then the tie rod eventually broke.

sucks

There is no mechanical steering - so it could be something else like the steering electrics coming loose.

There is a mechanical steering. The electric power steering is just there for assist.

Maybe a broken tie-rod like someone said. But I broke a tie-rod once, and was still able to turn the other wheel. The car was going nowhere though (wheels not pointing in the same direction).

My bad :\

Little hindsight but if you could feel the car pulling hard to the left aft the initial pot hole incident why did you not take it in to the shop and get it checked out??

Likely as others have stated your tie rod was damaged and then subsequently failed after not getting it checked out.

Because the pot hole incident was a day before (11AM thrusday) and the accident happened at 1PM Friday.

sooooo then you don't drive the car again till you get it checked out?

My guess is a bent steering linkage (black arrow). It jammed and now the wheels won't move.


https://services.edmunds-media.com/i...a_rr_r34_a.jpg

Thanks, so one steering linkage could prevent both front wheels not to move?

If it jammed it probably snapped something further up the line. The fact that you can turn the wheel means that the force isn't even reaching the wheels or linkage anymore. I couldn't find a picture inside the electric assist but I bet there is a simple worm gear on the motor and that has been sheared off. Could be one of the U joints though.


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Could be, Body shop will inspect the car today, we'll see what they find.

Could also be the gear inside the rack it self.
I am interested to know. Pot holes are one of my biggest concerns since I have had two cats steering taken out by them in the past.


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Did you call peta over the abuse of your poor cats :(

I hit a pot hole with my WRX couple years back hard enough to bend both front and rear wheel and destroy the front tire. :(

You ever tried to steer a cat?


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Now ducks are easy


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The time I tried to steer a cat ended up with me getting tripped and falling down the stairs.

The insurance told me that the Steering rack is broken and needs to be replaced.

Other parts to be replaced are:

Two sti wheels from the left side
Sti lip
Sti side skirt
Bumper needs to be repainted

They also mentioned that they need to inspect carefully the other suspension components and will be repair/replaced as needed.

No ETA on getting my car back.

Holy curb rash.

Was all that from the pothole/accident?

Still not sure what actually broke when i hit that pothole. Hard to tell now because other parts are damage like the steering rack.

Will get some more details this friday.

Best bet is still the linkage was damaged when you hit the hole. The rest (as you said) was a result of the accident.


https://services.edmunds-media.com/i...a_rr_r34_a.jpg

All these broke and needs to be replaced (besides the wheels)

http://i.imgur.com/Me8IDRt.png

Epic thread revival, but this in an interesting story!

Spambot hid and then edited later.

Lmao. These scripts are elaborate! I had someone trying to scam me over an arm rest, too (not the OP; actually waiting for it in the mail).

I got a PM “hey I have one for sale, too.” I then asked for a photo with their handle and never heard back...


...at least we all have a good lawyer now!!

wow , besides the wheel? that is a laundry list there. :(


i have had issues personally with pot holes as well , they are just so much of an issue sometimes. they can really damage a car if you are not paying attention.

Send your local county a bill for the insurance deductible.

They are responsible for maintains the roads and should reimburse you.

If they give you any guff file a claim in small claims court

this thread old lol, i hear that you can bill the state for having shitty roads, but seem like a long process and lots of work. I just went thru the insurance and paid my deductive

sure, one 'could' bill the state.

one could also give themselves a colonoscopy with a rusty fork. it at least would be less painless then trying to get money out of the state.