Is it my alignment?

T

TehPwnerer

New Member
I'm a noob when it comes to automotive knowledge, so bear with me.

Last night I was driving home on a curvy road and in retrospect was going faster than I should have, and my car slide a bit while going around a bend in the road. The front right wheel of my car went up and over a curb and hell maybe the right back and left front wheel eventually. Luckily I was not going fast enough to slide into the ditch or metal fence just several feet away.

Anyways, I was able to just keep driving and get back onto the road and drive home... but I noticed that in order to drive straight my wheel had to be turned about 30 degrees to the left.

Is this an alignment problem?
 
glhs837

glhs837

Power with Control
Could be, more likely, I think, you bent a tie rod. which, while it DOES affect your alignment, will require parts and not just adjustment. Take it in to a shop your trust and ask them to check it out. Me, I use Curtis for what few things I cant handle. Place looks like hell, but they are honest and good at what they do.

And please, do slow down in the turns while you learn your and you cars limits. I have nothing against learning your and your machines limits, but do so gradually and with full attention and caution. In testing, we call this an incremental approach. You dont take an aircraft built to do 500mph and head right to that speed. You hit 200, check things out, then go for 225, then 275 perhaps. take the same approach to driving. If you have a favorite corner, learn it slowly, always aware that there could be new things there like sand dropped by a truck preparing for icy weather perhaps.
 
Floyd2004

Floyd2004

-Void-
Oh yea... You cant just kiss a curb and drive away like nothing happened.
Tie rod is probably bent if you need 30* to go straight.
 
T

TehPwnerer

New Member
glhs837 said:
Could be, more likely, I think, you bent a tie rod. which, while it DOES affect your alignment, will require parts and not just adjustment. Take it in to a shop your trust and ask them to check it out. Me, I use Curtis for what few things I cant handle. Place looks like hell, but they are honest and good at what they do.

And please, do slow down in the turns while you learn your and you cars limits. I have nothing against learning your and your machines limits, but do so gradually and with full attention and caution. In testing, we call this an incremental approach. You dont take an aircraft built to do 500mph and head right to that speed. You hit 200, check things out, then go for 225, then 275 perhaps. take the same approach to driving. If you have a favorite corner, learn it slowly, always aware that there could be new things there like sand dropped by a truck preparing for icy weather perhaps.
Click to expand...

Damn, ok thanks, I'll have to take it to the dealership sooner than I planned then... when I took it for an oil change a month ago they said I would need the front tires replaced in a couple months and I have a feeling the wearing tread on my tires were part of the reason I underestimated how much I was going to slide.

Floyd2004 said:
Oh yea... You cant just kiss a curb and drive away like nothing happened.
Click to expand...

:doh:

30 degrees might be an overestimate, I don't quite remember I just know it was a noticeable amount. I will soon though, about to leave for work.
 
GWguy

GWguy

*
If you hit the curb hard enough to damage the steering linkage, you may also want to check your tire rims.
 
T

TehPwnerer

New Member
It was more around 10 degrees to the left that I had to turn the wheel in order to go straight.

Anyways, all four tires were replaced since they were pretty much worn down to the tread, so I had that done along with a full alignment, and had to have one rim and hubcap replaced. That fixed the issue.

Bah, tires are so expensive.

Thanks all for the info!
 
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