Did I bust a CV or bend my wheel?

[Sniperdude]

Hey folks, I just got a real quick question. I slid into a corner about two weeks ago when it was snowing and whatnot, and I went pretty hard into a curb with the front driver side wheel. Now, when I start speeding up the car seems to wobble a lot.

I know my CV boots are torn, but they shouldn't be shaking like that. They're not even making noises yet, so I don't suspect them a whole lot. Perhaps I should change the wheel? The lip of the wheel is bent a bunch, but I dunno if the whole wheel is.

Thanks.

[renmike]

I would take it to a place that does alignments and have them look at it. You could have bent something besides those two things. Even if your wheel was balanced, I don't know how much it would make the car wobble. My thought would be something else in the steering/axle/suspension got bent. Do you hear any abnormal noises while turning or anything else?

[davemac2]

you likely bent the rim on that side and will need it replaced. You could have also lost a wheel balance weight or two. Get the rest of the front end inspected as well and a new alignment. Better to be safe than sorry.

dave mc

[Axel Kain]

AAAHHH!!! you tierod killer!!! replace the tierod on your hit side, check the otherside for stiffness, get your wheel balanced, tell them to check for a bent rim, also ask them if you could look, or at least have them look at the underside for damage, or abnormalities. hope its only a tierod, or maybe a wheel, could be worse...

[trdcamry00]

either a tie rod, control arm or just and alignment. if your lucky they can bend them back and align it. I think they have to align all four though

[toyomoho]

For a start swap the spare tire with the front wheel that got hit. When the tire is off look it the suspension for any damage. If you don't know what to look for, compare one side of the supension to the other.

[Sniperdude]

Thanks for all the replies. I chaned the front tire yesterday and it's alot better. The only problem is that there is still very minor wobbling so, I'm assuming it's the busted cv's.

I'm posting a picture of what's going on down there. It's pretty ugly.

[toyomoho]

With the tire on the car, rotate the wheel and see if the wheel hub is bent. Find the tie rod end and see if it is bent. This connects the steering knuckle to the steering rack. In your photo it is behind the axle and also has a rubber boot.

The outer axle boot is split and is causing grease to be thrown everywhere. The outer joint will sooner or later fail. Also looks like either the seal on the differential where the axle inserts or the inner joint boot is leaking. If the boot is OK, have the seal replaced when you change the axle.

Not sure hitting the curb would have caused the axle boot damage, most likely it was already present. A failing axle can cause vibration.

A mechanic can put a gage on the wheel hub to determine if it is bent.

If your going to replace the axle (I suggest this), have the shop do all the work at the same time. Check wheel hub, tie rod, etc then replace the differential seal if required.

[Sniperdude]

Thanks for the input, moho. I spun the wheel and it remains perfectly straight, so I'm assuming the hub is good. Although, I saw a little red fluid underneath the axle... does that mean that the axle is busted, besides the actual boot?

[Sniperdude]

Nevermind, I remember I have a torn steering rack boot, so that's where the leak is.

[davemac2]

you said that it only wobbles at high speed. It does not take much bend in a hub to make that happen. To check it properly, you need to check runnout on the rim with a gauge. Did you check for missing wheel weights?

As already said by others, the CV and rack boots need replacing, but that does not mean they are cauing the vibration, but the CV might be the source.

dave mc

[Sniperdude]

Originally Posted by toyomoho

With the tire on the car, rotate the wheel and see if the wheel hub is bent. Find the tie rod end and see if it is bent. This connects the steering knuckle to the steering rack. In your photo it is behind the axle and also has a rubber boot.

The outer axle boot is split and is causing grease to be thrown everywhere. The outer joint will sooner or later fail. Also looks like either the seal on the differential where the axle inserts or the inner joint boot is leaking. If the boot is OK, have the seal replaced when you change the axle.

Not sure hitting the curb would have caused the axle boot damage, most likely it was already present. A failing axle can cause vibration.

A mechanic can put a gage on the wheel hub to determine if it is bent.

If your going to replace the axle (I suggest this), have the shop do all the work at the same time. Check wheel hub, tie rod, etc then replace the differential seal if required.

You were right. I'm replacing both axles tommorow, along with differential seals on both sides. Good call.

[toyomoho]

Since the shop has to remove or at least get a close look at all the parts that could be possibly damaged when hitting the curb, make sure they inspect everything. Easier to replace any parts now when things are apart.

[Axel Kain]

have you even checked the tie rod yet? keep the wheel on, jack up the car, and try to wiggle the wheel in (like it turns) and out/left and right, basically, as in youre turning the steering wheel with the tire, except do it faster, kinda jerkey like, and if you hear any clunking sound, or have a quick shift/give when you do it, the outer tierod is bad.

^wow that was alot!

also your CV shaft was already ripped, you may be able to reboot it, or just replace it, looks like your axle/CV to trans seal is bad. you definately should replace the steering rack if it is leaking, that is the first sign of a dying rack.

[Sniperdude]

This one expensive import mechanic that we go to for our Audi's was quoting me close to 1,000.00 for both denso driveaxles and labor.

I went to another mechanic that is going to install aftermarket driveaxles, seals, and labor for 300 bucks flat.

I'm also getting new tires and a balance tommorow as well.