T-Boned - Drive Shaft and Rear Axle

Glad you both are ok btw

 

Well Rachel is smarter than the typical TW Chad, because she wasn't raised by a single mom. She understands that LKQ means OEM used so no Chinese shit to worry about there. She would fight for diminished value, because that's the only fight she can win. She would sell the truck when it's over and move on. She doesn't get emotionally attached to vehicles. She's out looking at CPO Volvo wagons because Subaru's are so fuckin common in the Trader Joe's parking lot

 

If it were me and i could afford it i would pay the difference for OEM parts. I would not use LKQ because they do not fit right and were not corrosion protected like the factory and made in china not japan. Just my 35 years as a body man. Oh and ask for ASE or IIcar or factory training and High strength steel training. You have to have trained welders do this repair.

 

Are you serious? LKQ is new used! As in if this truck was totalled LKQ would sell parts from his truck for others.......

 

Like Kind and Quality is just that , used parts and Chinese parts. OEM original equipment manufacturing. If you are buying used parts like a axle housing I think thats fine provided its in the same gen.

 

I don't think the OP has to worry about getting Chinese doors. It looks like the Chinese only copy hoods and fenders at this point

 

I would ask about the wheel and tire. I imagine the tire can't be worth a shit.

 

And get what? If he didn't have insurance he isn't going to have any assets. Also, you'll have to get in line, the insurance company has first dibs on the guy to get their money back. You'll only see your deductible back if you are lucky.

All you guys and your dreams and demands of fat DV checks.. LOL LOL LOL

 

I would also take the entire rear axle housing just to sell the locker out of it. Rachel thinks about this shit, Chad not so much

 

In oregon a lot of Illegals drive without insurance and drunk and kill people with their vehicles and not much is being done to stop it.

 

Just want to throw in my 02 cents from someone who is in the industry...

Insurance company estimate looks in line with what I see. If this vehicle were to total it would be on a supplement if it was major. Your truck will probably total if the estimate got up to $14k-16k

Part Usage:

Aftermarket Parts are not really that bad. In terms of part fitment its not uncommon for a shop to say they don’t fit because they oem parts...and sometimes parts just don’t fit. A competent shop should test fit and ensure fitment before they paint or install anything. If a part does not fit the insurance company will write for another cost effective part or OEM if none is available. To be honest, I would be more concerned on how the body shop paints a vehicle versus part usage.

Recycled parts are OEM parts that are refinished and imperfections removed before they are put on the car. It is going to fit the same as oem. All the parts on the door would be swapped into the new door.

The Diminished Value Claim (State Specific)

Each state has guidelines to follow. Some are more difficult than others. In order to prove a DOV claim you must be able to justify why your vehicles value is diminished. Here are two examples:

1. As a result of an accident the vehicle is totaled. The vehicle is worth $4500, the owner states the vehicle is worth $6500 2 years prior because they paid that amount for it. This is not a DOV claim because there is depreciation on vehicles. The insurance company pays current market value for the vehicle using comps in that owners area. Unless the vehicle was appraised prior to the loss the owner would have a hard time seeking money for diminished value.

2. A Toyota dealer has four Tacomas on their lot. A drunk driver goes left of center and strikes all four Tacomas. The dealer files for a diminished value claim. The dealer states they had 4 brand new Tacomas and now they can only sell them as used vehicles. The dealer is entitled to the money lost because they are able to prove with invoices what the vehicle cost and how much they will lose by selling them as used.

 

If one were to immediately trade the vehicle in to a dealer when purchasing a replacement, could the difference in what they get as a trade value vs what the dealer would pay for a comp with no accident history suffice for a diminished value calculation? Essentially using a dealer trade on offer as a vehicle appraisal versus what they would pay for an uncrashed comp.

 

This is a possibility, as I had mentioned each state had guidelines on what counts as Diminished Value. If the vehicle is brought back to Pre Loss condition the owner should not have an issue with the dealer paying a fair value for the trade. Keep in mind dealers are notorious for offering lower values on vehicles so they can profit off a sale. My argument to the dealer if they tried to give me a low ball drive is simple if they tell me it was involved in a loss...”the vehicle has newer paint, new drive shaft, new suspension, new doors without x amount of mile usage.

 

Been meaning to follow up on this... I appreciated everyone's input.

They repaired my truck, took a little over three weeks. Pretty amazing work. Just hope it'll last as long as it would have originally.

Final cost to repair was just shy of $15k. $500 out of pocket for the deductible, Progressive noted they'll try to recoup the deductible from the other driver but I don't expect that to happen.

Most costly single item replaced was the rear axle. Was a used part, but insurance estimator informed me they must come from the same model vehicle, same or later year with similar mileage.

Anyway, was happy to have my truck back.

Forgot to mention, they did have to pull the frame. Body shop noted they have a laser system to align. I asked about potential for rust and they mentioned they treat the area of the frame with a rust inhibitor.

Original wreck images for reference.

 

How's it drive? Any odd noises or vibrations? Locker work like it should?

 

So I win a cookie for my guess of around $15!

 

I seriously doubt it that truck will ever be the same after that T-Bone. Looks nice after repaired, sell it.

 

I dunno bro, looks like a total loss to me

 

I'd be pissed that they put the sticker in the wrong place. If the sticker is off by 2", how close is the frame alignment?