Just had a very minor accident, Rav4 hit my R/R wheel and tire. Advice on what to lol for?

Title was supposed to say what to "look" for, not"lol", sorry, phone changed it.


Howdy, all. I just Now had a very minor accident. I'm an adjuster. There is a few very true statement that say "Doctors make the worst patients" and "plumbers have leaks"

When i am assessing damage on someone else's property, that is ALL I focus on. I find every minute detail. My concern is since I have a personal interest in my truck I might miss something that's why I'm posting.

Senerio...

I was in the turning lane traveling to a parking lot driveway about 100' from where I entered the turning lane, traveling at about 25MPH. The other driver, in a RAV4, gunned it from a parking lot on the right side of the road trying to turn left. Her. The right front of her bumper cover hit inside the right rear lip of my wheel. The clear coat on the wheel is scraped, tire is scraped. There is about 1/2" difference between front back hubs on the right and left side of my truck. Zero body damage to my truck, damaged her bumper cover, headlight housing and right front fender.

I'm going to let the adjuster do his thing, make his estimate, I know that's best. Then inspect damage. I intend to pull and check...

U-bolt
blocks
pins

And look for bends and/or stress.

What else am I missing? Also, anyone been in the same type of accident and have hidden damage to bearings, shafts, seals, etc... That show up later.

Its so much different when it's your truck Vs someone else's, I have the feeling that, man it could have been so much worse... When it's someone else's vehicle, my only thoughts are to find all the damage and make it right.

Side note, once we pulled over she actually said "that's one tough truck, next car I buy, I know what it's going to be."

 

If its any help, that 1/2 in offset could be somewhat normal. Alot of these trucks have a little axle offset from the factory. The passenger side sticks out a little more than the drivers side. And no, its not the alignment of the bed. Ive measured from the frame rails to the tires and confirmed it is offset.

Take it in for one of your "free" alignments at FS and look at the printout

 

Alignment is now off. I have alignments done every few months. It was spot on. Now slightly pulls to to the left.

 

(drivers side)

 

I wouldn't mess around. Get the actual frame alignment checked at a collision shop. Make sure the insurance company is aware.

But you probably already know that

 

I was in a somewhat similar situation to you a couple months back, hit on passenger rear. From personal experience I would say you are on the right track for repairs. I would also have your axle and axle housing checked. I had a good shop check out the axle for bends but luckily everything ended up being ok. Only damage was my poor valve stem and some wheel and body scratches. The things my poor truck has been through and keeps on going.

https://youtu.be/ajCPbqYmD5g

 

Update...

The adjuster has not looked at it yet so all I am doing is looking and taking pics. So far I found this, what do you guys think? Bent Axel tube?

 

Thanks for the Vids bro. What cams are you using?

 

When you spin the wheel, does the gap rotate with the wheel? If so it's a bent axle shaft. Although the proper way to check the axle shaft is with a dial indicator, if it's really bad, you will see things wobble when the wheel is rotated. As for the housing, the alignment numbers will tell if the housing is bent. Severe rear toe in or camber would indicate a bent housing.

 

Give me a few I'll put it jack stands and check. Thanks bro.

 

I put it n jack stands. Put it in drive. Right rear, The drum stays as is, big gap at the bottom, small gap at the top even with wheel spinning. Normal gap on left rear. I did hear some low pitch noise from the right rear. Not bearing type sound though. I put a little chalk on the tires, dropped the truck down a drove it about 3 blocks. Center chalk was gone, more chalk worn off of the inside of each tire than the outside, the right rear had more chalk worn off than the left rear and chault wasn't worn off evenly. So at least just based on chalk, pretty sure Axel is out of alignment. Noise, not sure. I'll do some more testing tomorrow.

 

Oh, And slight wobble on right rear when on jack stands.

 

Once had a side impact. Like 0mph. Big ole excavator type vehicle changing lanes at the stoplight, couldn’t see me in my tiny coupe. I was just sitting there while they were “pushing” me from the rear driver side like they were trying to jump a curb but couldn’t.

Looked like it was just a body work dent. A couple weeks later, the UCA (or LCA I don’t recall) in the opposite side front wheel snapped as I was backing out of a parking space. Creepy looking like the wheel just broke off. Would have been a mess if at +60mph

Blew my mind. They said it was probably fatigued but the incident with the lateral forces is what did the bulk of it.

Inspect everything. If their insurance is paying, complain complain complain. I was too eager to pocket the $1500 in body work payout only to have a wheel literally break off.

 

Lol, the Tacoma guy in me wants to tear it down soosoooo bad, adjuster in me say doooooon't touch it, lol.

 

My mom was rear ended about 15 months ago. The rear wheel bearing started making noise a few weeks ago.

It may be a good idea to have a look at yours if you haven’t already.

 

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I feel ya, my truck sat for 2 weeks for an adjuster that never came out to inspect it.

 

Thanks for sharing the info bro, I don't plan to let it go until it's right. I am trying my best to follow the advice that I give everyone else, just let the insurance companies run their course, THEN if they refuse to fix anything talk to your agent and keep your mouth shut.

It's hard, especially being an agent and an adjuster. One of the reasons I did not write my own policy, so another agent can speak for me if needed.

 

they never came check out your damage?

 

Correct, truck sat at a shop for 2 weeks while the other drivers insurance ignored my calls and canceled all scheduled appointments.