Ooops....smash the front/right wheel over a big kerb...HELP

[ScottMk2Gti16v]

Hi guys, not had a chance to come on here much lately but as ever something happens and your help is needed!

Yesterday I decided to take a shortcut from hell through some side streets and ended up bumping up a big kerb with just 1 wheel (driver side front). I've ripped of the wheel arch (was a new one to!) which I can sort easy.

The car still drives as if nothing happened but the steering wheel needs to be about 30 degrees anti-clockwise of centre for the car to drive straight.  Some has suggested the track rod ends need adjusted or the wish bone is knackered.   There is no obvious damage when you look at the car - i.e. the wheel seems fine and not bent out of line in anyway.   So have I got away lucky and just need it readjusted or could I have bent some things?

I should get it up on a ramp for my mechanic mate to have a look on monday but just thought I'd see what advice you all have.
Cheers.

[J.stafford16v]

You could of bent many things, but one thing for sure you will wreak your tires if you carry on driving it. Best not to use untill your mates had a look, cause if your wishbone snaps then this could be a little dangerous for you. And you may cause yet more damage, but you might be lucky my girlfriend recently took our volvo off road recently at around 60mph and when I had it looked over there was no damage apart from kurbing to one alloy.

[sharpie]

would just be a guessin game on the internet pal, wait til it goes on the ramps n find out.

at least if your mates the mechanic you'll be able to get some second hand bits fitted tae it so it shouldnae hurt the pocket too much

[Simpson]

Depends how hard you hit it, really how fast were you going? i doubt the wishbone will be bent unless you really gave it a bang, probably just tracking but as said get it pn a ramp. I hit a stone or something on the motorway a few months ago. It was a hell of abang and i as doing 90mph! car jumped up wishbones were fine, bent two alloys and sent tracking out, was lucky really. 

[rubjonny]

I had this on my GTI when I bought it, there was nothing bent but the wheel hub on that side had pushed in at the bottom, I loosened both bolts and pulled the bottom out as far as it would go and all was well.  You could see the wheel had tons of +ve camber!
If you look at the wheel hub you should see marks where the bolts were originally, line em up, or do what I did and pull both to max -ve camber and get the trackin done.

Chgeck your ball joint hasn't been shoved inwards as well, if it has again look for marks as clues to its origianl location, of you cant see any set it in the middle of the slots.

And of course look for anything bent with the wheel off while you're looking

[ScottMk2Gti16v]

Thanks for the pointers guys. Had the car on a ramp and it turns out it was just a linkage for the anti roll bar or something?  Anyway its fixed for £30 and handling like a dream again 

Got away lightly I think considering how hard I hit the kerb! And it was a horrible looking kerb to!

[sharpie]

Thanks for the pointers guys. Had the car on a ramp and it turns out it was just a linkage for the anti roll bar or something?  Anyway its fixed for £30 and handling like a dream again 

Got away lightly I think considering how hard I hit the kerb! And it was a horrible looking kerb to!

good lad