I'm an idiot hit a curb.
Thread Starter
1st Gear
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
I'm an idiot hit a curb.
Well, long story short I put my C5 into a curb (Yes, I messed up)
The wheel is bent and sits at about an 10 degree angle. None of the arms or anything look bent. I removed the wheel and rotated the wheels and the axle is going up and down (how ever it looks straight) so I assume the hub will need to be replaced. Rotor cracked so it will need to be replaced as well.
Question here is: What else do you think I will need to replace? Where should I get parts from?
The wheel is bent and sits at about an 10 degree angle. None of the arms or anything look bent. I removed the wheel and rotated the wheels and the axle is going up and down (how ever it looks straight) so I assume the hub will need to be replaced. Rotor cracked so it will need to be replaced as well.
Question here is: What else do you think I will need to replace? Where should I get parts from?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,938
Likes: 65
From: Rochester Hills MI
It happens to the best of us. Nobody ever learned anything without first making mistakes. You will probably need new control arms and a new knuckle, even if they don't appear damaged. I'd also check your spring to make sure it isn't cracked. Sway bar and shock may also be damaged. Hub is almost surely going to need to be replaced. Also check the upper shock mount to make sure it hasn't bent or busted off. Check the brake caliper around the mounting bolts for cracks, and also check the guide pins in the caliper.
You may want to attend some autocross events and have some fun in an open parking lot to learn better car control skills before you start doing things like that when there are obstacles around. The one good thing about making repairs is you will learn a lot about working on your car. Luckily most things are aluminum, so you will have little issue breaking the bolts free.
I'd look into corvetterecycling.com for things like hubs, control arms, and knuckles.
You may want to attend some autocross events and have some fun in an open parking lot to learn better car control skills before you start doing things like that when there are obstacles around. The one good thing about making repairs is you will learn a lot about working on your car. Luckily most things are aluminum, so you will have little issue breaking the bolts free.
I'd look into corvetterecycling.com for things like hubs, control arms, and knuckles.
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Sounds like it could be some major expense involved. Get a quote from a trusted shop for the repairs and then decide whether it would be better to let the insurance company take care of the repair after your deductible.
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 58
Likes: 2
From: Houston, TX
I did the same exact thing. The tie rod boot was torn but nothing else looked out of place. I took apart the entire suspension to compare both sides and everything matched up. I still replaced the lower a arm and knuckle just to be sure and also did some upgrades while I was at it. I replaced the wheel bearings and shocks too along with the broken tie rod and spindle nut as well as some various bolts/nuts.
After putting everything together (and making sure everything was torqued correctly), I was able to adjust it so the wheel sat correctly with negative instead of positive camber.
After putting everything together (and making sure everything was torqued correctly), I was able to adjust it so the wheel sat correctly with negative instead of positive camber.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 229
Likes: 13
From: Columbia South Carolina
If you really want piece of mind and no more worries. Replace every part that may have been bent during your curb excursion regardless of how it looks, throw it on an alignment rack get it aligned and call it a day.
If not, you can replace the rotor, wheel or whatever else that is for certain tweaked, throw it on the alignment rack and you will quickly find out if anything else was bent.
Buy used stuff, there is nothing wrong with used control arms etc.
If not, you can replace the rotor, wheel or whatever else that is for certain tweaked, throw it on the alignment rack and you will quickly find out if anything else was bent.
Buy used stuff, there is nothing wrong with used control arms etc.
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Instructor
Joined: Aug 2015
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If you really want piece of mind and no more worries. Replace every part that may have been bent during your curb excursion regardless of how it looks, throw it on an alignment rack get it aligned and call it a day.
If not, you can replace the rotor, wheel or whatever else that is for certain tweaked, throw it on the alignment rack and you will quickly find out if anything else was bent.
Buy used stuff, there is nothing wrong with used control arms etc.
If not, you can replace the rotor, wheel or whatever else that is for certain tweaked, throw it on the alignment rack and you will quickly find out if anything else was bent.
Buy used stuff, there is nothing wrong with used control arms etc.
That reminds me a buddy got some used c5 control arms online and one of them had a slight bend , it was easy to miss if you didnt compare them , anyways the seller exchanged got for him
So sometimes a yard will sell parts from a wreck that look ok but may be tweaked
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 184
Likes: 0
Soo... My buddy drove it in the parking lot where I could watch... The wheel actually wabbles...
The wheel itself looks straight...
The rash is only on 1/4 of the wheel. I didn't hit it hard...
The tire isn't even scuffed...
And from what some of you are saying it sounds like I trashed the whole front end on that side????
And to the jackasses with there comments I've been driving a corvette since I was 19. I'm almost 39... Accidents happen.
And I have a 4 wheel drive truck too! But I was in my C6.
I've been working on cars since I was 15, just never had to do suspension work...
Thanks to those who are being helpful and nice!
The wheel itself looks straight...
The rash is only on 1/4 of the wheel. I didn't hit it hard...
The tire isn't even scuffed...
And from what some of you are saying it sounds like I trashed the whole front end on that side????
And to the jackasses with there comments I've been driving a corvette since I was 19. I'm almost 39... Accidents happen.
And I have a 4 wheel drive truck too! But I was in my C6.
I've been working on cars since I was 15, just never had to do suspension work...
Thanks to those who are being helpful and nice!
Racer
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 264
Likes: 7
Soo... My buddy drove it in the parking lot where I could watch... The wheel actually wabbles...
The wheel itself looks straight...
The rash is only on 1/4 of the wheel. I didn't hit it hard...
The tire isn't even scuffed...
And from what some of you are saying it sounds like I trashed the whole front end on that side????
And to the jackasses with there comments I've been driving a corvette since I was 19. I'm almost 39... Accidents happen.
And I have a 4 wheel drive truck too! But I was in my C6.
I've been working on cars since I was 15, just never had to do suspension work...
Thanks to those who are being helpful and nice!
The wheel itself looks straight...
The rash is only on 1/4 of the wheel. I didn't hit it hard...
The tire isn't even scuffed...
And from what some of you are saying it sounds like I trashed the whole front end on that side????
And to the jackasses with there comments I've been driving a corvette since I was 19. I'm almost 39... Accidents happen.
And I have a 4 wheel drive truck too! But I was in my C6.
I've been working on cars since I was 15, just never had to do suspension work...
Thanks to those who are being helpful and nice!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,764
Likes: 375
From: Central Florida
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 184
Likes: 0
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,470
Likes: 460
From: East Windsor NJ
Don't feel bad - I pulled into a friends driveway and they have a "natural rock edging" about 1ft high and sitting behind the wheel I couldn't even see this thing out the pass side - any other car would have been fine - me - 2 scratches down low that will set me back $750 - sheesh!