Avoided collision by jumping a curb, need help!

**Lionel** · 07-02-2011

while avoiding an idiot running a red light, I smashed my 04 GT into the curb... and damn... theres some damage. the body is fine, but my passenger side wheel and everything connected to it isn't.

Busted parts include:

CV Boot is leaking (the whole shaft popped out when i was removing parts)
Lower control arm is bent badly
tie rod is bent
my tire's belt is broken
my rim is toast
the part that you fasten the two bolts to the shock, (dont know what it is called) broke in half.

now for the question, i got most of these parts off, except the tie rod and the housing where the cv shaft goes into the transmission.

the tie rod goes into this rubber boot and i dont know where to start to remove it. and when the cv shaft came out, theres this cup looking thing where the three large bearings go into. Do i just leave that there and install the new cv shaft into it?

I'll take pics if needed. any help woould be great

**gtp239** · 07-02-2011

you take the cup looking thing out, it is part of the axle the new one will come with one. The thing with the 2 bolts that hold on the strut on is called the spindle.

**TheOtherNick** · 07-02-2011

Pull the boot off the tierod and and you will see where the inner attaches to the rack you will need an inner tierod tool to get it off

For the Cv put a pry bar in-between the cup and transfer case and pop it out

**Lionel** · 07-02-2011

Thanks guys. Another question, the boot just has a tear in it, can I just put another boot on it and salvage the cv shaft?

**Scottydoggs** · 07-02-2011

Originally Posted by Lionel

Thanks guys. Another question, the boot just has a tear in it, can I just put another boot on it and salvage the cv shaft?

yes you could but im thinking the the whole shaft has to come off anyways to remove the old boot and re install the new boot. if that much stuff is bent/broken, i'd change it just for piece of mind.

i'd remove the strut too, and make sure its not bent as well. its only 3 more bolts on the top so its worth looking at.

**Bob Padilla** · 07-02-2011

Wow sorry to hear that bro. I'm glad that you going curb hopping kept you safe though.

**matt5112** · 07-02-2011

the steering knuckle is the part that everything bolts to.

If you wanted to go used an auto wrecker would sell you most of the suspension for one price.

**Lionel** · 07-07-2011

Matt, your avatar is awesome I am so doing that one day lmao.
So my cv shaft was busted under the boot, had to replace that. Also when I cut my wheel my tie rod end has a bit of play, I'm guessing it needs replacing? Aand when I cut my wheel I hear a rubbing noise, I sourced it to my strut mount, the nut and metal plate turn with the shock. And it seems the rubber under the plate is squished compared to the other side.
Would tightening the nut stop it from turning? Or is something ceised in there? I appreciate all the help guys!
Lg

**NegativeOne13** · 07-07-2011

That sucks dude. I had an event with a curb a couple weeks ago. Did you take pics? Surprised no one has asked for pics yet.

**RegalGS98s** · 07-07-2011

Sorry to hear about that, at least you and the body of the car are good. For the inner tie rod, if you replace it instead of the whole rack, this is the tool I recommend: Inner Tie Rod Removal Set I replaced the inner tie rod on my GTP using vise-grips and alot of muscle. After that I got the tool and used it on the Buick and it was so many times easier. You do have to grind one of the adapters a little bigger to fit our cars. Also be sure to loosen the crush lock on the inner tie rod. If you have 200k miles like I do on the Regal, you may decide it's time to just replace the whole rack. Plus, it may be damage as well from the crash. Advance Auto with using their coupon codes was the cheapest I found for the steering rack. $135 shipped. Think was a little more for the GTP.

**Reefer82** · 07-08-2011

Ouch, had a similar incident but didn't involve another car

I ended up cracking a rim, cutting a tire, bent tie rods. Got lucky on the cv, lca however. It's a lot of work and really sucks. Personally w the amount of force it takes to damage a kncukle and mangle a control arm I'd probably replace all of that. Struts I'm not well versed in. If it were my car and the knuckle were damaged that badly (we haven't seen pics here so have to assume the worst) I would probably remove the strut to make sure it was not bent as well. Seems like it would be very unlikely it came out out of this unscathed. How old are strut and mounts? If original this may be a good time to upgrade if the funds are available

**Lionel** · 07-09-2011

Unfortunately I didnt take any pics, I should have.
I already took off my inner tie rod with that special tool.
The strut seems ok, I think I just damaged my strut mount, plus i hear clicking noise when i turn my wheels.
And yes my steering knuckle took a beating, it snapped in half basically where the caliper attaches to it i could see the bolt, and it exposed my wheel bearing.

I'm going to replace the strut mount and see what happens. I'm just going to replace my outer tie rod, it seems to move too easily.

Thanks for all the feedback guys.