Hopped a Curb
 

This afternoon I was showing a buddy of mine who was back from college for the weekend my new rims. He liked them a lot and asked if he could take my car for a quick drive. I said yes, and got in the passenger's seat, I figured I could trust him. WRONG! Everything went fine, we just went up and down the street, but as he was turning back into the parking lot, he floored it. The backend whipped around a little bit in first, but as soon as it shifted into second the car completely spun around and he ended up hopping a 5" curb at a 45 degree angle at about 25mph.

My question is, what do you suspect the damage is? I already know that I need new front tires, an alignment, and possibly new rims. When I drove it home, the steering wheel would pull about 1/2 an inch back and forth at 30mph. One of the front tires has a bubble poking out of the sidewall. And my chin spoiler is completely ruined.

Can anyone think of anything else that could be messed up? I checked underneath and by some act of God nothing underneath looked like it even scraped, despite the fact that I've got H&R SS springs.

Oh and just to clarify both the front and the rear jumped the curb.

You could also have bent tie rods or the socket could be messed up on it. Best thing to do is take it to have the suspension looked at. Do you have the stock wheels? Put them back on and take it for a spin. Dont let broke Azz friends drive your car as if they mess it up how will they pay you for repairs. You dont floor a Mustang while turning.

How much would repairs on either of those things cost? I plan on putting the stock rims back on tomorrow and seeing how it goes. And as far as not flooring a Mustang while turning, you're damn right. He drives a 1.8L GTI so apparently isn't familiar with operating RWD V8 domestics. I'm so pissed at him right now, especially because I usually take extremely good care of my car and wouldn't let something like this happen.

So you think that's about the extent of it? Is it possible to do stuff like bend/break A-arms? Bend studs? Bend the frame in some way? I'm an extremely paranoid person so I always assume the worst. I thought I was gonna get out of the car and all 4 tires were gonna be popped, all 4 rims destroyed, and need a tow home. I got very lucky because in the grass median we ended up on there was a small tree about 5 feet in front of us and a giant lamp post about 10 feet to the left.

I would put your stock wheels back on, drive it and see how it goes. Then check your suspension (tie rods, sway bar links, etc.) I would then have it aligned and see if that checks out ok. Usually if tie rods, axles, etc are messed up, the car will not align properly, and you can track down the problem from there. I would also stand behind the car and kinda do a visual and see if the wheels on the side of the car the hopped the curb sit further towards the center of the car than the side that didnt get hurt. Also look to see that the wheels/tires are straight and not bent inward or outward (possible bent lower control arms, sway bar,etc). I don't think anyone can give you an estimate until we know what exactly needs to be replaced. I hope for your sake everything checks out ok, keep us updated... and as far as letting buddies drive your car.... :nomore:

Believe it or not I make people sign a waiver of you break anything you fix it. And I must be in the car at all times.

But back to the matter at hand...get that checked out. I want to see a picture of the front suspension in different angles with the tire off...

I'm going to say at the least your knocked out of alignment. Worse you dont want to know worse.

Hopefully the rear didnt take any damage or you'll be needing a new axle.

Sucks. That is why nobody drives my car but me.

Exactly. No joyrides. :)

Well here's an update. I got home from school today and took off all 4 rims and inspected the suspension. Everything looks OK! I am so relieved, I thought I was going to be without my car for a while and in debt for the repairs. The only things that need replacing are:

All 4 tires
At least 2 of the rims, maybe more
The chin spoiler

I sure hope my friend can come up with the money for this stuff, tires aren't cheap!

that sucks to hear, but your freind better pay, or he really isn't much of a friend.

If he doesn't I'll probably never talk to him again.

I feel for ya. I had a similar thing happen once. A friend was in town and was in dire need of transportation so Against my better judgement, I let him take my (then) motorcycle. He laid it down... and to make matters even worse, he lied and made up some bullshit story about kids knocking it over. I was really disapointed in him.

He ended up sending me a check, but we haven't spoke since and that was about 5 yrs ago. I'd rather have the friend back than $750 I got, but things like that are touchy.

good luck with it. Hopefully everyone learned a lesson and it will all work out.

:Woot:

Yea, I would definitely make your friend pay, idc how close you are.

Just curious, why do you need four new tires? Because of the curb hop? or because of treadwear not related to the incident.

I never let people drive my car. I let my gf drive it once in an abandoned park and she was afraid to go more than 25mph, so no worries there. Other than that, no one drives my car.

before you tell him anything take your car to a GOOD frame shop and tell him what happend and let him do his thing you will sleep better doing this:boink:

This morning when I woke up, the DS front and PS rear were flat, the PS front and rear had huge ass bubbles on the sidewalls.

And I'm with the rest of you. From now on, nobody drives my car except me.

Great idea. Cant be too safe now a days.


Rims bent Im assuming? That sucks bro.

Yeah, I'll try to take some pics tomorrow. They're pretty messed up.

wow... what a ****in douche...

yup... don't let anyone look at yer car... not worth the cost when they **** it up...

That kid better pay... If I ****ed up my friends car, You know I'd pay up and fast, I'd order what I broke THAT day...

but yeh... If yer lucky it'll be just the obvious rims... maybe axles... if yer brake pads are rubbing then axles are probably bent...

If he doesn't pay kick his ass...

If everyone thinks i'm joking i'm not. I make them sign it I have one or 2 coppis in the glove compartment. Also on the waiver if i'm going to the track or i'm doing things on the street I shouldnt be:cop: It says that if they are injured or killed in any accident I am not held responsible. God forbid anything happend but back in high school I didnt want any parents after my a** if I did anything stupid with anyone in the car.