Rear axle shift along leaf spring, from collision

Another vehicle turned left into the right side of my 2015 Taco a few nights ago, doing some damage to the back of the rear passenger door, cab just behind the door, and bedside. It was a low speed collision so the damage is moderate. The right rear tire was on a slow deflate post-accident. I went out of town the day after and today was my first opportunity to put the spare on and see if the truck is driveable. The body shop won’t be able to take it for a couple weeks. Insurance is all good including a rental, but I’d like to know if towing the boat is a possibility so I don’t lose the opportunity for the next two weeks.

After taking the wheel with the flat off I found the axle had shifted rearward along the right leaf spring. Presumably the axle pin is sheared. I’m no expert but I see no evidence of frame damage. The left axle/leaf spring is in the correct position.

Could drivability be as simple as replacement of the bump stop, axle pin, and u-bolts? And of course a repaired or replaced tire.

 

We've seen hangers bent and axle tubes bent but this looks like the u bolts took all the energy. I'd say its possible all you need is the ubolt, pin and stops as well.

 

Thanks! If that’s the case I could easily do the repair myself. However that might complicate the insurance situation, so will see if the body shop can just do it up front, and let me have the vehicle back until they’re ready for the body work.

Besides, best for a professional to inspect the entire rear suspension / frame / drivetrain.

 

OP, it would seem your diagnosis is spot on. Do please take care of it before towing or much else for that matter. Good luck with the insurance.

 

The axle housing and axle shaft should both be checked to make sure they weren’t bent. Likely they are OK, but if not, you want it fixed on their dime instead of dealing with tire wear or vibration issues in the future. I’d push for a new wheel bearing on that corner too, it’s taken enough of an impact to compromise it.

Is there a reason a rental capable of towing your boat isn’t an option?

 

Towing is a good point. I need to request a flat bed tow so the mangled geometry on the rear isn’t an issue.

Good ideas, I’ll definitely ask for those to be inspected.

Renting a vehicle that has permissible towing is an interesting thing. Enterprise is my only rental option and they only allow 3/4 size and above to be used to tow. That’s about $25-30 a day above my allowable max through my insurance. Fault is still being worked out, should be in my favor, if so perhaps the difference can be covered by the other party’s coverage.

 

Ah, I didn't mean the Tacoma being towed somewhere. I meant you towing your boat, please don't do that. However, you bring up a good point for a flat tow in that with the axel alignment off you will be a crab going down the road as it is. I see many older trucks crabbing down the road. Too bad you can't rent the bigger truck without the cost penalty.

 

Oh ha yes misread that. I definitely wouldn’t tow with the suspension issue. I won’t drive it at all that way, it’ll get towed to the shop tomorrow morning.

 

I would think that the "at fault" drivers insurance would be paying for the rental vehicl that is up to par with the damaged vehicle. That would mean a truck capable of towing your boat on their dime...

 

If fault lands on them then I’ll be asking about this.

Was in a residential neighborhood at night on a street that has no centerline markings, no paint lines whatsoever. In my state on a street like this passing is permitted. Vehicle in front of me was doing 20 below the limit, eventually came to nearly a stop as if they were about to park on the side of the road. No signal. So I elected to go around, which is legal.

Vehicle turned left into me as I was about halfway past it. Was going into a driveway. I had no clue, they didn’t use a turn signal.

Insurance co has already said since the impact was at the rear half of the vehicle, they turned into me, and without having used a signal, it’s their fault. But, one never knows how these things will turn out, so I won’t assume anything yet…Will definitely be fighting hard though for what I believe is right.

 

What does the police report say?????

 

I am not expert compared to some of you guys and visually it looks like the axle pin broke and the leaf springs shifted....

...but OP said that the impact was from a left turn into the right side of the truck. Which would cause a side impact with forces being side/side-left/right.

But the retention tabs for the rear u-bolt looks to be completely flattened.... like the collison force caused the leaf pack to slide forward... and not side-to-side.

Not trying to be a debbie-downer... just pointing out what my blind eyes sees.. good luck @Hook78

 

It sounds like to me ( even though they didn't use a turn signal ) you assumed they were going to park and they turned left instead. I has someone turn in front of me before and I nailed them. He attempted to claim I was turning left so he also turned left. State Patrol said It doesn't matter about the turn signal light it is his responsibly to make sure I was turning before turning in front of me. Note: I had no turn signal on and was in the straight lane...

If it is deemed the other parties fault their insurance should be covering the repairs and the rental car for you that meets your needs. I would push for it, you shouldn't be out a dime.

 

Haven’t seen the report. The state trooper who came to the scene wrote me a ticket for improper passing. No ticket to the other driver for no signal. He told me that if the other vehicle had come to a full stop I’d have been legal to pass. That didn’t make sense to me at the time, I’ve since asked a recently retired trooper who said that’s not at all how it works. He said he would have written the other driver a ticket for no signal and nothing for me. Luckily the insurance company doesn’t care about the ticket, just the points of impact. Which show that the turn happened after I was established and almost past the other vehicle.

I had the exact same question, and my theory is that since my vector of travel was forward, perhaps the force vector of the other driver’s front left corner was rearward as an equal and opposite reaction, based on the geometry. I think the rear of the cab/ front of the bedside took most of the right to left impact. Also the center pin is a heck of a lot thinner than the ubolts, so easier for things to go in a front/back direction than sideways.

Someone else mentioned a preemptive bearing replacement and that makes sense for any side to side vector.

 

I guess the most I can say is I expected them to park or continue straight since they didn’t have a signal activated. Shouldn’t be my responsibility to read the other driver’s mind, and if I can legally pass, and they’re not in the act of turning, I should be able to pass. They were basically obstructing the road at this point.

 

You need to have everything checked thoroughly. I had a trailer take a low speed quartering side impact, and it bent the spindle. If the force was sufficient to shear the pin, need to check the geometry of everything.

 

Good to hear.

 

TLDR, check your leaf pack center bolt, by the looks of the pictures that shit sheared off due to the force and thats why all is out of place. Cheers

 

Insurance has completed the estimate and paid out.

It includes replacement of the leaf springs on both sides since they come as a pair.

I’m contemplating doing that work myself and pocketing the labor funds. Is this a silly idea? I installed them originally, no issues.

 

If the insurance company pays for the parts/labour and you can do it yourself, I would. As you know, replacing springs isn't that hard or time consuming.