My son has a 2006 Chevy Impala LTZ. Today we had a quick shot of freezing rain. The car slid into a curb at around 5 miles per hour. Now the car really pulls to the right. you can tell the right wheel is out of alignment compared to the left. I drove it to check for vibrations or anything and everything was fine. I drove it around 5 miles and everything seemed fine You just have to have the wheel turned to the left quite a bit. I am thinking it needs a front-end alignment. What are your thoughts?
Please don't post twice about the same problem. Thanks! (Topics merged.)
It will need an alignment at a minimum, though it is certainly possible parts in the suspension were bent when he hit. A good alignment shop will be able to tell you.
there is no wobble so I know the wheel is ok. I was thinking if anything might be damaged it would be the tie rod end or control arm, which he had put on in the fall. The car goes great at 70 MPH, its just really pulls to the right.
And maybe a new wheel, tie rod, and possible other stuff.
Take it to a shop and have the alignment checked. Depending on how hard he hit the curb, the control arm could have been damaged, but that usually takes a pretty solid blow to the wheel, they are quite strong. You'e more likely to damage (bend) the tie rods before the arms are bent.
It could, but he'd have to hit the curb pretty hard. If you turn the wheel all the way over or jack it up then you can see for yourself.
My son hit a curb yesterday during a freezing rain event. Now the car is pulling to right and it looks like the right wheel it toed out. I am thinking alignment issues. Could it be a bent control arm as well?>