Please help! Hit a curb, leaving car shaking problem!

[localed]

Hi,

I hit a curb last month, leaving the rims cracked and bent (I was going around 30 mp/h). Right after the accident, the toe was off, tilting the steering wheel to the right. The day after, I went to a alignment shop and get everything checked, and the mechanic said I need a new rim (obviously) and a new tire (eventhough the tire wasn't blown or leaking). I then preceeded to get it, he did the alignment and balancing on the wheel.

When I was on my way home, I feel that the alignment is back in its original condition, but the car did make a loud grinding noise and shaking pretty badly. I went back to the shop and ask him to test drive it. He then told me that I need a new axle, CV Joints and CV Boots. I then told him to go ahead and change everything. I drove back home, the
noise was gone, but the car still shakes up to this point.

The car never shakes before the accident. I've been going to three different shops, and they all say the balancing is correct, the tie rod, ball joints, and lower control arm are all in perfect condition. I have also gotten the tires rotated to see if the shaking comes from the wheel, but the problem is still there. The tire are all brand new, I just got it 2 months before the accident. Could someone tell me what should I do with this? My last hope would be the strut, but I am not sure.

Does anyone know a good mechanic down here in SoCal? I live in Irvine, so I will appreciate any kind of help! Have a good one guys!

[acprkit]

Hi

Where do you feel the shaking coming from - through the steering wheel? Is it at a specific speed?

[localed]

Sorry forgot to mention this. It starts shaking at the speed of 60 and above. It sometimes depends on the road too though. Sometimes it shakes really bad at 70MPH on a certain road, sometimes it shakes lightly at the same speed, but different road.

[gdanaher]

You still aren't telling us WHAT is shaking. The tire might be new, but you might also have orn a cord inside the tire, and at higher speeds it is moving around and changing the balance of the tire. Just a possibility, but if all other frame parts are new or have been checked, the only thing left is to replace the damaged tire.

[localed]

I feel the shake through both the steering wheel, and if you seat at the passenger side (the side that hit the curb).

[gdanaher]

1. Jack the front of the car up, block rear wheels, with car positioned in such a way that if it falls off your jacks it can do no substantive damage to another vehicle or structure.
2. Start engine, place in first gear, observe that both wheels are spinning true with no runout. Turn steering wheel slightly left to right and continue to observe that there is no runout in any position.
3. With a helper outside and observing, place trans in drive and accelerate to the point you are having the problem. Observer should be well to the side of vehicle and never walk in front of vehicle. Observer should look for tire runout at speed.

Based on what you have described, you have a damaged tire that can not easily be identified at the slow speeds it is spun for balancing purposes.

[PRNDL]

Have your wheels checked by a shop that has a Hunter 9700. This equipment not only balances the tire but it also checks for an out of round condition. You can search for a shop in your area on their web site.

http://www.gsp9700.com/

[localed]

Thanks for all the replies, folks!

I just found that the problem is the hub. It got bent. I replaced it and it's all good now!