| Author | Message | ||
     Peter Sharratt (Gummikuh) Member Username: Gummikuh Post Number: 101 Registered: 02-2003 |
Hi I have recently hit a honda civic side on, after the geriatric driver never saw me!, all the front bumper and panels were fixed OK, but the front left swingarm moved back about an inch, this was jigged out and was OK after performing a computer geometry check. After I got the truck back, noticed a clunk from the front when steering under power, and suspect bearings as I can not find anything obvious. Is this attributable to the accident or would you say fair wear and tear? I have 65k on the clock. I have booked it into the bodyshop for another look and would like to avoid looking like a complete fool, but on the other hand I don`t want to foot the bill if this was caused by an accident that was not my fault. Any ideas? Pete S | ||
| Paul T. Schram (Paulschram) Senior Member Username: Paulschram Post Number: 1404 Registered: 02-2002 |
Peter: This is a path many folks take, few come out pleased with the outcome. The clunks from the front end could be bushings that were compressed during the crash and subsequent repairs-you might ask your adjuster to replace the bushings as a supplemental claim. You might also request new front shocks as these are sometimes a cause of clunks (was for me). Could also be tie rod ends, again, try for the supplemental. One comment, you might ask to have your adjuster there at the body shop to go over it also to help keep things on a level playing field and also so that work doesn't get done, for which the insurance company won't pay. Peace, Paul | ||
| Peter Sharratt (Gummikuh) Member Username: Gummikuh Post Number: 103 Registered: 02-2003 |
Hi Paul Thanks, I really appreciate your help. I hate this situation, I feel like I am just complaining over nothing. My shocks are OME and were less than two weeks old pre accident. With the truck on the ground I can grab a front wheel and try to pull it left and right, I can feel a really slight clunk, so this leads me to suspect a wheel bearing, but I should check the bushings, as I don`t suppose these were exchanged. I was curious could a wheel bearing be affected by a fairly hard impact? Many thanks Paul Pete S | ||
| Paul T. Schram (Paulschram) Senior Member Username: Paulschram Post Number: 1407 Registered: 02-2002 |
Pete: I personally think that wheel bearings are only affected by poor installation and maintenance techniques. If you haven't read my rants on this topic, the bearings on these trucks are used in much heavier vehicles (John Deere tractors to name one). They are hella robust! I have read testimonials of fellows going hundreds of thousands of miles on original wheel bearings! I went over 168K this morning on original wheel bearings on my truck. But, you may run into a problem at the body shop as most body shops do not do mechanical work. If this is the case, contacting your adjuster just became much more important (guess I should have said this sooner). FYI-my wife is an insurance adjuster, I quite often am used as her expert witness on such things. Rarely, work comes to me from her clients. But when it does, oh glory be, it is lucrative! So far, no Rovers yet. Peace, Paul | ||
| Peter Sharratt (Gummikuh) Member Username: Gummikuh Post Number: 104 Registered: 02-2003 |
Hi Paul Thanks, I will let the bodyshop take a look to see if they spot anything obvious, they admit although they fix loads of Land Rovers, they contract out the really techie stuff. But I feel better about the wheel bearings, as I could not see how they could be affected, I can imagine the embarrasment if they proved it was nothing to do with the accident. But with these sorts of things it is better to get it checked , rather than find out with my family in the car. many thanks Pete S |
