Watch-out...curb!

[whos_on_first]

So I get a call from my wife yesterday saying she hit a curb with her van and the allignment was off. She was in a parking lot and didn't see a curb and said she was going less than 5mph...which I'm guessing means 10-15mph. I asked why she thought it was the alignment and she said because the she had to hold the steering wheel a little bit to the side in order to go straight. She said it wasn't rattling or making any noise so she drove it home.

When I get home the tire is squatting a little bit, not too bad. Looked under the van and could see a small amount of paint was flaking off the sway bar like it had flexed, but it didn't look bent at all. The wheel looked like it may be pushed back a half inch to an inch in the wheel well, but it could have been turned slightly. I took it for a test drive and it seemed to drive just fine, no noises or rubbing, and it didn't pull to one side or another. Then I looked down. I guess we have a completely different interpretation of what 'a little bit' means when in refrence to holding the steering wheel to the side in order to go straight. The steering wheel is pointing about 35-40 degrees to the left!

Any thoughts on what might be the issue? I've never seen a steering wheel knocked that far out of place before. It's an '08 Kia Sedona. We'll be bringing it into the garage on Monday, but I'm trying to brace myself for what it might be/cost. And if anyone has any experience fitting one of those big rubber bumpers that they have on bumper cars to a minivan, I have a job for you!

[Scott K]

It more then likely has a bent part, but if the adjustment may be able to be made up on the alignment, just bring it in, it would be impossible to try to guess what is bent, and to what extent.

[Jeremy airjer W]

I wouldn't be surprised if the lower control arm is bent. Best case scenerio an inner tie rod and alignment and you'd be good to go.

If the wheel is of that far there should be no problem for the people who look at it to figure out what is going on.

[fishing tech]

Yep, I would guess inner tie rod is bent. It is the weakest part along with the rim.

[jeffreyd]

time for curb feelers to make a come back, my wife has hit both sides of the garage in both houses we have lived in, all 4 rims are chewed up, thank goodness aluminum takes a beating. One day i noticed the paint gone off one of the door handles. asked about it she said that while driving thru a construction zone, with oncoming traffic, she moved right a tad, she heard something looked in the mirror and saw a sign waving at her as she just dragged the rh front door handle on the edge of the sign. Oh well, that is why we have them...

Wifes

[whos_on_first]

Your wife and mine would get along really well jeffreyd! This is definately not the first thing that has 'been in her way'. Luckily it's always a stationary item that we own or a curb...and nothing worth an insurance claim. And thankfully she recognizes the fact that she's not the best driver in the world and doesn't want an expensive car.

[shizzy]

at least mine has never driven in to the side of the bank. oh wait......

[whos_on_first]

Inner and outter tie rods bent, plus alignment. Guess it could have been worse...