GTI Post Crash Advise Needed

[smithian]

Hi All.

Managed to drive my MK 5 GTI into a curb in the snow yesterday at about 5 mph. There was a really loud bang and physical damage only seems to be a 8" scrape on the rim of the front right Monza (I have the 18"s). I've just discovered however that when i accelerate hard it pulls to the left pretty badly (it didn't do this before) The steering wheel also seems to shake a little at around 60. Question is could this simply be tracking (it doesn't seem to pull to the left driving normally), or could I have bent something? Not really sure what to do. Do I put it in my local garage and ask them to check the tracking, or do I go through the insurance? I have protected no claims and a fairly low excess.

Ian.

[Gene Hunt.]

Hi Ian.I did the very same a couple of winters ago in my last car. Big scrape on the alloy & steering wheel spokes pointing to 25 past the hour.Took it to my local garage & they put it up on the ramps had a good look on the under side & re-tracked it & everything was fine again.Hade the alloy re-furbed & everything was as good as before.Mine was only a slow speed impact with the kerb so you should be fine mate.

[smithian]

Hi all.
Bit of an update. Took the car to Protyre in Enfield for a 4 wheel alignment and it's bad news. The camber and toe are all out on the right hand front wheel but so is the caster (determines if the wheel is to forward or back from the correct position). They said they couldn't see any bending so I've booked it into the stealer on the 30th to get a diagnose. Measuring the gap between the wheel and the body panels on the left and right side of the wheel compared to the left wheel, it looks like it's moved backwards into the car around 1.5cm's (gap to the left is 1.5 cm's less that the elft wheel). I'm getting some vibration at around 40mph and whirring around 70mph, plus serious pulling to the left on hard acceleration,  so have decided not to drive it until the 30th just in case I cause any more damage. I'm hoping I've just bent the wishbone... Stealer are quoting me £225 for a wishbone replacement and getting the alloy refurbished will cost around £75, so fingers crossed total layout is only around £300. Anyone else had any similar experience? What was the outcome?
Ian.

[Wayne]

Cannot see a wishbone bending at that slow a speed to be honest.

[Saint Steve]

Hi all.
Bit of an update. Took the car to Protyre in Enfield for a 4 wheel alignment and it's bad news. The camber and toe are all out on the right hand front wheel but so is the caster (determines if the wheel is to forward or back from the correct position). They said they couldn't see any bending so I've booked it into the stealer on the 30th to get a diagnose. Measuring the gap between the wheel and the body panels on the left and right side of the wheel compared to the left wheel, it looks like it's moved backwards into the car around 1.5cm's (gap to the left is 1.5 cm's less that the elft wheel). I'm getting some vibration at around 40mph and whirring around 70mph, plus serious pulling to the left on hard acceleration,  so have decided not to drive it until the 30th just in case I cause any more damage. I'm hoping I've just bent the wishbone... Stealer are quoting me £225 for a wishbone replacement and getting the alloy refurbished will cost around £75, so fingers crossed total layout is only around £300. Anyone else had any similar experience? What was the outcome?
Ian.

Have you brought this car 2nd hand?? perhaps its hit the kerb badly prior to you purchasing possibly?

[jamesgti22]

I did the exact same thing with my car last December in the snow. I'd even say my impact wasn't even 5mph, but the car just stopped dead against the curb.

The damage - visually, just a scuffed alloy and the top of the wheel was leaning in too much (like too much camber). But when I took it in, VW dealer said I had damaged the hub, track rod, track rod ends and bearing. With labour, the total was over £700. Then I got the wheel re-furbed and ended up taking it twice to another garage to get the tracking checked and re-checked because I wasn't happy. Overall damage closer to £1000!

So, I don't mean to be the bearer of bad news, but this was just my experience. I was told that if it was a lesser car like a polo, the damage may well have just been the tracking - but the GTi has much more expensive and intricate parts.

I think you're doing the right thing not driving it until fixed - there obviously is something seriously bent in the suspension!

Good luck

[smithian]

Hi All.
Thought I'd provide an update. Put the car in to the stealer for a check and turned out I'd bent the front right wish bone. Had both wishbones changed (apparently you have to change both together) and a 4 whell alignment. According to the 4 wheel report the Caster was out of spec on both wheels by around a degree (the right one was out by a degree after the crash and before the change, the left was within spec) so each wheel is set back in the car. Stealer told me this is OK providing both readings are similar which they are. I'm getting what I can only describe as a vibration/wheel baring noise at 70mph when I turn left (chaning lanes for example). I've had all 4 wheels balanced today as directed by the stealer but the issue is still there. THe car's going back in Wednesday and I just wondered if the noise I'm getting cold be due to the out of spec caster or could I have damaged something else not picked up at the first repair?
Thanks in advance
Ian.

[Saint Steve]

^^^
What Make of tyres do you have fitted?

[AndyC]

Hi All.
Thought I'd provide an update. Put the car in to the stealer for a check and turned out I'd bent the front right wish bone. Had both wishbones changed (apparently you have to change both together) and a 4 whell alignment. According to the 4 wheel report the Caster was out of spec on both wheels by around a degree (the right one was out by a degree after the crash and before the change, the left was within spec) so each wheel is set back in the car. Stealer told me this is OK providing both readings are similar which they are. I'm getting what I can only describe as a vibration/wheel baring noise at 70mph when I turn left (chaning lanes for example). I've had all 4 wheels balanced today as directed by the stealer but the issue is still there. THe car's going back in Wednesday and I just wondered if the noise I'm getting cold be due to the out of spec caster or could I have damaged something else not picked up at the first repair?
Thanks in advance
Ian.

Interestin read, cause I did the same thing in my Mk6, dont get any vibrating/wheel baring noise but the tracking is defenatly out will have to get it checked out.

How much did the work and parts cost?

[smithian]

Hi All.
Thanks for the replies... I have Goodyear F1's fitted (they've done about 5K) and to date everythings cost £410 (£382 for the 2 wishbones and 4 wheel alignment and £25 for the wheel balance). The vibration I get at 40 mph, then at 50-70 mph (I don't get it around 60mph). I get the vibration when I turn the wheel left like changing lane, the more I turn the harder the vibration. I get a very subtle vibration when driving in a straight line at these speeds which Interestingly seems to disapear when I turn right (could be the placebo effect). The stealer said once again there was nothing wrong this week but couldn't test drive because of the weather. They also wanted £150 to take the breaks off to investiagte the CV joint and bearing. So I declined.b The vibration is the same as going over raised painted lines on the road like when you pull of a motorway and cross lanes (hope that makes sense). Stealer wanted £211 to change the bearing. Local garage wants around £150. Question is do people think it could be the bearing or do I need to pay for further investigation?
Ian.