Avoided deer, spun out, alignment needed?

[gatorbushmen]

Those damn deer.....
Long story short, I was taking a friend home, saw a deer hop out in front of me, swerved to avoid it, spun out and ran straight into the grass. Luckily, there was no curb, just a bunch of grass. I heard a pop come from the front of the car.

After post-spin out inspection, I noticed that the car pulled right if I put the steering wheel in the straight position. I am assuming I broke something, since I heard the popping noise. Im gonna jack her up tomorrow, any ideas on what I need to be looking for? Steering knuckle? I really do not know, but I doubt an alignment will fix my problems. The front wheels dont have any visible positive camber, so it has to be something that bent or broke.

Any help would be appreciated.

[Skywgn1]

take to a specialist and have them put it on the rack for the alignment and have them inspect it at the same time. Mine only cost 60.00

[@Art_Mighty]

Jack up the front of the car and take off both wheels. Inspect the front spindles and then the two arms for their attachment points to each other and the chassis. Then carefully examine the tie-rods and the steering rack; be sure to look over where/how the rack mounts to the chassis.

If you broke/bent something it should be fairly obvious

When is doubt take it to a competent shop and have them put it on the rack

[gatorbushmen]

Thanks guys, I love this community. so helpful!
Ill keep you guys updated..

[whaap]

If it acts differently after the incident than it did before you know something is wrong. I wouldn't bother inspecting it. Get it to an alignment shop to be checked. You might have a bent suspension part that will need replacing. At the very least you will need an alignment.

[Captain_Awesome_Pants]

Originally Posted by whaap

If it acts differently after the incident than it did before you know something is wrong. I wouldn't bother inspecting it. Get it to an alignment shop to be checked. You might have a bent suspension part that will need replacing. At the very least you will need an alignment.

Agree with this 100%. "Just grass" can do a LOT more damage than you think. Especially with hidden mud, rock, debris etc... Might have a damaged part.

[d4wt]

glad you're okay. while luckily there was no curb or worse another car around, swerving under such a circumstance is usually not the best approach. sure, we are all "great drivers" but it's small mistakes like this that can end up costing you a lot more than an inspection and a few parts

[bkblitzed]

Originally Posted by d4wt

glad you're okay. while luckily there was no curb or worse another car around, swerving under such a circumstance is usually not the best approach. sure, we are all "great drivers" but it's small mistakes like this that can end up costing you a lot more than an inspection and a few parts

this. thankfully there was grass next to you, but sometimes the best scenario is to just hit the animal.

[FRyeS]

Don't veer for deer!

[whaap]

Originally Posted by Marchy

my buddy is an insurance adjuster and he always says to hit the animal and don't swerve. hitting the animal removes you from fault and won't affect your insurance rates as much as avoiding it and essentially crashing yourself.

LOL. I'd rather pay for an alignment or a bent control arm than drive around a car that's had patched up sheet metal and paint.

p.s. I retired after 25 years of handling automobile insurance claims.

[whaap]

Originally Posted by Marchy

or pay for an entire car had there been a rock, or a ditch, or a telephone poll. I'll stick to hitting the animal.

That's sort of a 'duhhhh'. If I don't have an escape route I agree with you. The topic on this thread is a guy who missed an animal by going off into some grass which, again, is the option I'd take any day. What you would decide to do might be different and that's o.k.

[gatorbushmen]

So I haven't gotten the chance to jack up the car, but I figured out by using a level, that I have some toe-out on the front right wheel.

Now I am no suspension buff, but I am assuming I'm dealing with either a bent tie-rod or steering link.

I did some research, maybe a bushing for the steering link caused the "popping" noise that I heard when I spun into the grass..... I dont know, a friend is dropping off his jack stands so i can take a closer look.

Since I am dealing with toe, what part would I be limited to? Or could it be a plethora of things since there is a great possibility that I bent something...?

[namdoog]

It could be a plethora of things. Could be as easy as adjusting the toe back where it needs to be... could be a bushing, rod, or control arm.

Is there any unwelcome vibration right now when you drive?

[kcam86]

Originally Posted by gatorbushmen

So I haven't gotten the chance to jack up the car, but I figured out by using a level, that I have some toe-out on the front right wheel.

Now I am no suspension buff, but I am assuming I'm dealing with either a bent tie-rod or steering link.

I did some research, maybe a bushing for the steering link caused the "popping" noise that I heard when I spun into the grass..... I dont know, a friend is dropping off his jack stands so i can take a closer look.

Since I am dealing with toe, what part would I be limited to? Or could it be a plethora of things since there is a great possibility that I bent something...?

I work at Beaver Toyota I can probably get my buddy to put it in the shop to look at it for next to nothing if you want and get you employee pricing for an alignment. If you want to be my "cousin".