Wife Clattered a Rock

[Lubrown]

Unfortunately it’s all aluminium these days to save weight and keep the emissions in check. So it’s all a weak point.

Aluminium? When did this start?
I see lots of pressed steel with holes in on other brands but on my Transporter there seems to be little in the way of aluminium at first glance?

Also, depending on which bit is is, lightweight is more likely to aid ride comfort, not emissions. Still not convinced suspension and drivetrain parts are aluminium, especially on vans.

I’ll send the wife out with a magnet.

 

[JOG]

Who threw the wife under the bus?!!

 

[Sasquatch]

The Mrs had a whoopsie and clattered a rock

 

[T6Plumber]

View attachment 306791

If I found my Mrs getting clattered by The Rock, I’d shake his hand & tuck him in.

 

[Sasquatch]

If I found my Mrs getting clattered by The Rock, I’d shake his hand & tuck him in.

And say, "thank you, Sir!"

 

[DaveD]

Thanks, it's not a 4 motion, so no drive shafts here.

Except the one in the top photo?

 

[Srea064]

Thanks, it's not a 4 motion, so no drive shafts here.

Got back tonight

Looking at the state of the wheels she clattered the outside edge of the wheel of a rock ( front and back :O ), so i'd be surprised if it bent the lower arm ( will check it out though).

Made a right mess of the brand new alloys, so not a bad shout to check they are still round too.

I always hated the 20" wheels, they aren't exactly suited to the roads we drive on, so their honestly isn't any blame going on. Honestly think if it was on 18s it would have just bounced off the rock looking at the impact.

1 new tyre deffo needed, maybe two ( again brand new ), that hurts more than anything else. Hate throwing away brand new tyres.

Hope it’s a simple fix and only requires a track rod end and a replacement tyre. Note, the non 4 motion vans are front wheel drive, so have the drive shafts on the front assembly. Hopefully they’re all okay though.

 

[mattius]

You can tell I have a stinking hangover, of course you are correct

 

[mattius]

Curiosity got the better of me when i got back this evening, im not seeing anything bent.

Driveshaft is perfectly straight, inner rod end looks straight, outer rod end looks ok.

Is the rack solid mounted? or could it have slipped?

Raising the white flag i think, i prefer to do everything i can myself, i've rebuilt engines, gearboxes ( most of them worked too afterwards ). But this has me stumped, partly because nothing is straight to begin with

Adding some more photos in case anyone fancies a game of spot the issue Only thing that looks off to me is some strange marks on top of the lower wishbone

 

[JOG]

Did she actually hit a rock or just throw up a big stone? I was expecting to see a scrape/gouge lower, not a ding above.

What are the symptoms when driving?

 

[T6Paul]

What was the speed of impact?

Since you need a new tyre anyway I’d get an alignment check and see if the wheel runs true.

 

[JoshB_]

Hard to tell from the photo but that bottom arm does look a bit more bent than usual. They do curve down on 2 out of the 3 ends from the factory.

 

[Badjamin]

You said the steering is off I'd say start at the wheels, could just be an allignment issue, possibly toe out?

 

[mattius]

The outside of the front and rear wheels took a whack and have some deep gouges. Looks like a glancing blow. At around 20mph. The outside of the wheels are a mess.

The steering is now off by about 20-25 degrees.

Apart from that, can drives fine.

I'm gonna take it for an alignment and get them to check it out when they do that.

 

[Hobo Mikey]

Would it have just whacked the tracking out. Getting that checked would be a good start as those guys are doing it all the time so may spot something wrong.

 

[mattius]

Spent too long looking at the lower components, conclusion verified by mechanics, the shock is bent :O
7 month old shock too, but the shaft is deffo bent and the wheel has more camber than the other side.