Yay I hit a manhole with no cover. Bent axel! Can I bend it back?

[TermTrky]

Slight fishtail, slightly tweaked. My rear axel/strut assembly is bent on one side.. I can't get an angle estimate, but it's bad enough that I don't want to drive it. It rained a lot & a city manhole cover came out. "%$"£%£& they should pay for this man, it's Seattle! We should be prepared for rain. Or some fool took the cover off but I'm not sure.

Could I replace the axel / hub assembly? Will it ever be right?

Let me know if you've got some advice....

 

[just2asian]

actually if you get in contact with someone from the city you may beable to get them to pay for something. as for bending everything back? I would say get a new axle and what not, ### it'll never be the same.

 

[turbodsm18]

I beleive new axles from Oreilys are only like $50 a side

 

[xxraptor660xx]

You probably would have needed to file a police report, if you wanted to get the city to pay.

 

[TermTrky]

You probably would have needed to file a police report, if you wanted to get the city to pay.

Most likely, that sounds about right. I doubt I could prove it was the city's problem. But they should fix the manholes.

 

[TermTrky]

actually if you get in contact with someone from the city you may beable to get them to pay for something. as for bending everything back? I would say get a new axle and what not, ### it'll never be the same.

Ha, I'll strip the wheels off today & take some measurements. Let's see about the angles/alignment of where the hub bolts up, as well as the rear strut / axel [or whatever that configuration is]. I'll see if I can do a write-up on how to jimmyrig this good enough

I'm probably looking at bending the hub, and replacing a strut / axel assembly.
I'm sure the shop will charge more than my car is worth.


Thanks for the replies, it probably won't ever be "right" but I'll make it work until I can get a 2nd gen DSM :]

Thanks for the responses, I feel ill about this. I'm sure you guys know the feeling when you messed up :/ My OZ Rally rim is bent to all hell too. Need a new set.

 

[1512gvr4]

sound to me like youll need at least a new axle and some new control arms in the rear

oh and no, you cant bend it back

 

[TermTrky]

sound to me like youll need at least a new axle and some new control arms in the rear

oh and no, you cant bend it back

I'm just going to replace the whole axle assembly. I think it will be fine after that.

Question: Will the spring shoot out when I remove the axle? Do I really need a spring compressor?

 

[DSMunknown]

Don't bend it back. Just replace it. How about a couple photos just for the hell of it?

 

[inspector-111]

If you can take a picture of the cover missing (for proof), the city will have to pay for it.

(That is, if it has not already been replaced.)

I know that its much easier for someone else to spend your money for you, but don't bend anything, just do it right and replace it!


Good luck!

 

[ricktb]

where I'm from the city pays for vehicle damage caused by potholes (if your lucky) so I'd imagine you can get some compensation if you can prove it.

 

[92AndAHalf]

Same here. You have to really hound them, but eventually they will pay for it. A friend of mine claimed the potholes in the city here destroyed his suspension (although to be honest his suspension was already on it's way out) and they ended up buying him new struts and springs. It took him a lot of complaining, but he eventually got them to move on it.

The problem is proving that a manhole was open that day. With potholes, unless they fix them, the evidence of the pothole is still there.

 

[TermTrky]

So, I found a rear axle from a '90 Eclipse. I installed it, and this thing drives straight as an arrow! Last night was the first night driving, after verifying the axle was installed sound I took it on the freeway. My belt's been screeching for a while, but it just snapped! Alt/waterpump belt. Yay. It knocked, pinged, stalled out, dead battery. Oh god. No blown seals, it's holding fluids, the over-heat was not fatal

Thank you all, and yes : you can replace a rear axle to restore ride quality after hitting stuff :]

I didn't take any pictures, I wish I could find my digital camera. But my axle is visibly bent downward, and twisted slightly.

 

[talonalex92]

glad everything worked out!
and on the subject of bending axles back, yeah actually it can be done.
a buddy of mine has a "gator" or something that he calls it. its like a four wheeler or something, ive never seen it. And he somehow bent an axle and he put it in a "crank straightener" and he said it worked like a charm. Now, what kind of machine hes talking about, no idea. But he works at a machine shop and it sounds legit to me haha