hit a curb goin downhill and bent the rim; grinding noise - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

1991corolla · 01-26-2009, 10:55 PM

i was driving out of the Jackson Rancheria in Jackson, CA in my parent's '91 corolla (4afe, 3spd auto; just my beater car)... anyways, it goes downhill and curves to the left, then you turn right to get to the road that leads you to highway 88... well it's a 15mph speed limit, and i was doin like 30+ and was like "oh s**t!" and braked, but the ground was wet so i slid with the wheel turned to the left... and i slid into curb on the right and bent the rim on the front passenger side... i saw sparks fly up... so i drove straight into the No Overnight RV Parking and i was hearing a grinding noise... like, i know it's not driveable because it pulls to the side or something... i got out and looked and it seems like i bent the lower suspension arm, definitely the rim...

Could i have messed up the transmission since i had it in neutral??

Also, could the axle be bent??

What is causing the grinding noise??

I put the spare tire on after i had it towed home (forgot to put the jack back in the car)... cost me $225 to have it towed... anyways, the grinding was worse with the spare...

***new echo owner*** · 01-26-2009, 11:58 PM

You might have bent the hub, and the rotor maybe coming in contact with the backing plate. Jack the damage side of the vehicle off the ground and rotate the wheel, look at it straight to see if it is wobbling. Do the same with the wheel off, with a couple of lug nut holding the rotor on. Otherwise, tow it to a repair shop.

N.E.O.

***REN69*** · 01-28-2009, 11:48 AM

I'm also thinking bent axle here, and who knows what else... even bent strut. I mean if it was hard enough to bend the rim that bad, chances are the axle and suspension took a nice hit.

***SCT*** · 01-28-2009, 07:56 PM

The wheel bearing is likely damaged, which would cause whirling and/or grinding noises depending on driving speed, load and the amount of damage that it had accumulated. I doubt the axle is bent, it was made for movement unless it hit the curb. If it was your tranny/diff, it'll be like stepping on the gas pedal while on the brakes with no more friction material.

As for the pulling, your tie-rod, strut and/or control arm may be bent.

As for jacking up the car and checking the wheel assembly for wobbles, all of the possible parts I named above would result wobbles. In other words, have a friend shake the wheel and you look at any moving parts, including those that are not suppose to move. And compare one side with the other side to see if anything is bent.

When I jumped the curb at around 15MPH, the wheel was bent to hell, everything else was fine except the left-front towing eyelet which was slightly bent as well. No other problem.

toyotaspeed90 · 01-29-2009, 04:08 PM

I have a couple hints.... #1) learn how to drive #2) learn conditions of the road (part of #1 as well) #3)don't hit curbs

also... why were you in neutral if it's an AT?! Like you're going to save that $0.10 in gas if you are in neutral going downhill instead of having it in gear (where it likely would have aided in slowing down)?

If you dont' know the damage that you caused (and no photos doesn't help) then you should probably take it to a shop.... there's a chance you totalled the car.......

Possibilities of damage:
Rim
Tire
Bearing
Hub
Strut
Control arm
Steering rack and/or endlink
Brake hose (just because you habe brake pressure doesn't mean it isn't damaged)
Axle (but probably not... maybe the bearing carriers)
Trans (but probably not... unless you damaged the axle and the axle c-clip got jammed and you can't remove the axle)

finally, your Ego.

freakinbox · 01-29-2009, 07:21 PM

it's most likely the wheel bearing, I hit a large curb at good speed the first winter... plowed it. I blew a ball joint. Everything else was fine. I would take it in to get it looked at though!

verlaryder · 01-31-2009, 09:12 PM

There are lots of '88-'92 4 door Corolla sedans at the Pick-N-Pull self service dismantler in Rancho Cordova if you end up needing a whole lot of replacement front suspension and axle parts.

freakinbox · 02-01-2009, 01:42 PM

depends what it is. With stuff like ball joints and such I won't go with used!
With the axel you might not have an option. I was working at a shop and they couldn't get a new one for a sedan that came in with a bent axel.

toyotaspeed90 · 02-02-2009, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freakinbox

depends what it is. With stuff like ball joints and such I won't go with used!
With the axel you might not have an option. I was working at a shop and they couldn't get a new one for a sedan that came in with a bent axel.

then the person who orders parts at your shop is retarded..... they are 100% plentiful, but the 5 speeds and the at's.... they're the same through 1997...