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help, i had a car crash..

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Old 04-24-2012, 10:44 PM
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help, i had a car crash..

2 years driving and I've been good, statics wise i passed the benchmark but as any other young adult it was bound to happen

me and my father had seen the problem , we were going to fix it and it pretty much cause this whole problem, but we left it alone.

i knew my car needed new brakes, my brake pedal wasn't functioning as should and my break squeaked and made an ugly noise.

not saying that directly cause this whole problem i take the blame too but i really need ur help and not angry comment at how dumb i must have been.

on my way home after school on the access road i tried to make a right turn but my car didn't slow down enough. at first it did , but then i felt no response and panicked, (not the first time a car has left me without brakes) and trust me its horrible.)


to turn or not to turn? i didn't know, i tried but i just heard the tires screech. and then BOOM.

i didn't hit any car , i didn't hurt myself , and i didn't even get a scratch on the body, well basically

a wise man once told me "any problem that can be fixed with money, is not really a problem" those words help me be as optimistic as possible.


but my rims and tires? POPPED

here a pic of my rim, only one got messed up , (the one that took the impact)





damage? one rim, two tires, one more thing and well this : how bad is it?









nothing else happened to the body, my dad said that if i would have dropped it already (which i haven't so many people slack) my bumper might have been gone to.

so what do i do now?

well i need 2 205/55/16 tires.

and I'm on the look out for a chrome rim. yes its tacky, but i need it to be chrome a lot of junkyards only have the silver one, and riding around with 3 chrome and 1 silver is wrong on so many levels.

and buying 4 silver ones? might as well get any rims i want online.

but no, the first problem to deal with is.

what do i do , is that frame damage?

or is that #13 or #11?



what parts do i need, please and thank you :o and my car never overheated again , thanks
Old 04-24-2012, 11:04 PM
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so did you hit a curb or something?
BTW I think that is going to be way to expensive to fix
Old 04-24-2012, 11:07 PM
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yeah i did hit a curb, its was a little taller and then average. and well do you know what it might need?

rim 125 $

2 tires 200$

and that broken part of the frame? or whatever it is?
Old 04-24-2012, 11:18 PM
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fixing where the controll arm broke is a pretty big deal.. As a matter of fact if you submitted that to insurance they might just go ahead and cut you a check for your car... good luck..
Old 04-24-2012, 11:18 PM
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I think the last picture is the control arm. I remember when I hit the curb on my mr2 my control arm was bent, but in this case you might have to replace more than just the control arm. Just get all the parts from a parts car and pay people that do suspension/alignment to put it back together. Cause you're going to definitely need an alignment after. Looks like you might need some welding too..

Last edited by silvermamba; 04-24-2012 at 11:22 PM.
Old 04-24-2012, 11:24 PM
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Originally Posted by ABlatzheim
fixing where the controll arm broke is a pretty big deal.. As a matter of fact if you submitted that to insurance they might just go ahead and cut you a check for your car... good luck..
REALLY? how do the go around fixing that?

Originally Posted by silvermamba
I think the last picture is the control arm. I remember when I hit the curb on my mr2 my control arm was bent, but in this case you might have to replace more than just the control arm. Just get all the parts from a parts car and pay people that do suspension to put it back together.
and yes that control arm might be a bit bent. but thats not really the main problem, see where i broke the frame ?

im f***ed i can't believe this...
Old 04-24-2012, 11:27 PM
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I think that you need to factor in other suspension components such as: struts, lower control arms (cross strut and torque strut) as the ball joints will be shot, tie rods, sway bar links and possible steering rack damage, steering knuckle and wheel bearings.

When you add up the costs for the components and the labour to install everything not including the subframe, I would not be surprised that your car is a write off as the sum of the parts and labour is close to the value of your 11 year old car. It might not be worth fixing

the cost of the tires and rims is the least of your worry

Last edited by Boom vang; 04-24-2012 at 11:29 PM.
Old 04-24-2012, 11:40 PM
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Originally Posted by Boom vang
I think that you need to factor in other suspension components such as: struts, lower control arms (cross strut and torque strut) as the ball joints will be shot, tie rods, sway bar links and possible steering rack damage, steering knuckle and wheel bearings.

When you add up the costs for the components and the labour to install everything not including the subframe, I would not be surprised that your car is a write off as the sum of the parts and labour is close to the value of your 11 year old car. It might not be worth fixing

the cost of the tires and rims is the least of your worry
+1 ... This is a much more detailed discription as to why I stated it could be a write off.. As a matter of fact I didn't even take into consideration half of the stuff that probably is messed up now.. Good luck Op..and keep us posted on how it goes...
Old 04-24-2012, 11:54 PM
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you broke the sub frame...must've been some serious impact. you broke the sub frame that is part of the engine cradle I believe. there are ebay listing that sells the sub frame, but I don't know how you would go about replacing it.

and what you need is not on the diagram you posted. the diagram you posted is for the front bumper support and top rail.

Last edited by FrankW; 04-25-2012 at 12:04 AM.
Old 04-24-2012, 11:58 PM
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Originally Posted by ABlatzheim
+1 ... This is a much more detailed discription as to why I stated it could be a write off.. As a matter of fact I didn't even take into consideration half of the stuff that probably is messed up now.. Good luck Op..and keep us posted on how it goes...
Originally Posted by FrankW
you broke the sub frame...must've been some serious impact. I don't even know if front sub frame can be replaced. I only know the rear can be dropped out and replaced.

the front sub frame?

oh man my day/ week has gone to sh#t.

i am so bummed. should i take it to a collision shop?

should i call my insurance?
Old 04-25-2012, 12:05 AM
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check my edited post

the front sub frame is part of the engine cradle. i wouldn't know how you can replace it.
Old 04-25-2012, 12:42 AM
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Originally Posted by Benzos4theteam
should i call my insurance?
If you have the necessary coverage and not just basic liability, I would explore that option, for sure.
Old 04-25-2012, 12:58 AM
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ouch that sucks, but it never hurts to go to a body shop and get a estimate. As said above though if you have full coverage that would be the way to go
Old 04-25-2012, 01:42 AM
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If you don't have full insurance coverage, you're probably better parting it out.
Old 04-25-2012, 01:43 AM
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>>>i knew my car needed new brakes, my brake pedal wasn't functioning as should and my break squeaked and made an ugly noise.<<<<
>>>>(not the first time a car has left me without brakes) and trust me its horrible.)<<<<
Lucky you didn't get killed. Or KILL SOMEONE ELSE! OR BOTH!

What, are you totally stupid?
Or you just didn't want to spend the money, and brakes
didn't seem that important to you?

WTF is wrong with the brakes?
It just needs pads and rotors? And you don't repair it?

How much is your life worth? Or yours + someone elses?
Or a family?
AND you say your father knew and did nothing, and let you continue driving? I take it you're about 18? Well if you're under 18 he shoulda taken the keys! And if you're over 18 and not on the title, he again, shoulda taken the keys!
You're a hazard to yourself and everyone on the road!

I hope you will learn from this.
You don't just keep driving a car until it has an accident from lack of maintenance and you KNOW it's a hazard. Man, that is seriously fupped duck.
I mean you knew! And you just kept buzzing along and figured it would be 'bound to happen'.
Like god or fate had something to do with it?
I'm not sure who to be more disgusted with, you, or the parent who turns a blind eye.

Wow, Darwin Award Nomination for sure!!!
You're seriously lucky to be alive.
I hope there isn't another instance of it being 'bound to happen'
for any reason! You won''t be so lucky the next time.
But most importantly, you don't have the right to take other people's lives into your hands
with such an attitude.

Every time you get on the road, it's not just your life you put at risk rrrrr.
Can't believe you would just keep driving until you have a complete brake failure
with prior identification of the problem. Very very bad.
If you can't afford to maintain your car, get something you can afford, or a bicycle!

OK, I REALLY hope this is getting through to you.

Next time after you kill a family of four, and you survive from having
all that safety technology to protect YOU!
Come back and talk to us, about 'bound to happen' from being an irresponsible lazy jerk!

Last edited by C230 Sport Coup; 04-25-2012 at 05:54 AM.
Old 04-25-2012, 04:08 AM
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Wow... I agree 100%with your post....The reason this happened was not brake or any other mechanical failure. The op is obviously looking for a scape goat, ( even offering up the idea of it being his own fathers fault) ..I think we all can agree that there isn't a father out there who would let there own child drive around in a vehicle that is unsafe.. This young person has obviously fell under the dilusion that the people on this forum are ill informed.

To the op.. You should take responisiblity for your actions.. You obviously were driving a little to aggressively in your car and you wrecked. Thats part of the game.. For every action there is a reaction.. As far as the ops father not maintaining the vehicle properly I don't buy it.. And to suggest that there was some sort of brake fade or malfunction is rediculous.. watch out for the "higher than normal" curbs next time..

And unless that car has a salvage title it isn't getting back on the road..
Old 04-25-2012, 06:05 AM
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I drive a Toyota Hybrid...
so u gonna need all 4 brakes, wheels, tire, control arm, cradle, steering rack, a good aligment, new suspension for sure u looking around $3000 parts+ labor

and when brakes fail, there is always parking brake u can step on or better yet, downshift or shift to P right away if needed and if you really need to avoid an accident, carefully turn ur car to scrape the wall to a complete stop....

so how did u get home? got the car tow or manage to drie it home?

Last edited by kirax2; 04-25-2012 at 06:10 AM.
Old 04-25-2012, 08:43 AM
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There is a chance that you might not be covered by insurance if they decide to investigate the cause of the crash. It is one thing to have a catastrophic failure of a component due to fatigue, part failure etc, it is another thing when it is caused by poor maintenance or failure to upkeep a fundamental and necessary component of your car. Knowing that you had brake issues how did you think that you going to stop, the Fred Flintstone method, using your feet or a boulder attached with a rope?

I agree with C230 Sport Coupe that it is poor judgement by the two of you to continue driving with a known and THE MOST IMPORTANT component of your car that was in poor repair (it is one thing if the engine is giving problems, it is totally different story if you can't effectively stop your car). Everything is moot on your car after brakes and steering, if you can't stop then there is no excuse to be out driving and you are so lucky to neither you or an innocent bystander were injured or killed.

I wonder what your take would be if instead of this being your car it was an airline that failed to provide the necessary maintenance on their aircraft? Would you even step in to the plane let alone fly with them?

Instead of looking at the financial loses, look at this as one of your most important life lessons, and very lucky to come out with only a smaller bank account.

And finally I would not consider using a back alley body shop to try to weld the broken sub-frame to so that the torque strut can be attached, Alum alloy is very hard to weld successfully and you are only asking for a potential failure down the road and that could happen when driving at highway speeds

Last edited by Boom vang; 04-25-2012 at 10:22 AM.
Old 04-25-2012, 09:00 AM
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That car is probably going to be totaled if you go through your insurance. Probably some more of your "spirited" driving to thank for this. I can run my car over a curb any day and blame it on the brakes and I'm pretty damn sure nobody would believe me. If you were in fact slowing down to turn you had to be going way to fast in a car you had no business driving knowing it had bad brakes as you claim to do that amount of damage.
Old 04-25-2012, 10:10 AM
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it wasn't a money thing no one ever has time for anything around here, it was poor judgement.

i didn't hurt anybody or even my self. and I'm not trying to take peoples lives. no one in my family has ever crashed.

and it all happened so quickly. i to am still in shock. i couldn't sleep last night i just found out all this stuff.

the first thing that went flying was the rosary in my rearview mirror.,, I'm lucky i wasn't hurt....thanks guys and sorry
Old 04-25-2012, 11:04 AM
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Originally Posted by Boom vang
There is a chance that you might not be covered by insurance if they decide to investigate the cause of the crash.
Very true.
Old 04-25-2012, 11:30 AM
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Originally Posted by Benzos4theteam
it wasn't a money thing no one ever has time for anything around here, it was poor judgement.

i didn't hurt anybody or even my self. and I'm not trying to take peoples lives. no one in my family has ever crashed.

and it all happened so quickly. i to am still in shock. i couldn't sleep last night i just found out all this stuff.

the first thing that went flying was the rosary in my rearview mirror.,, I'm lucky i wasn't hurt....thanks guys and sorry
The point is, what if there was a family coming around that corner? You'd have creamed them. Or a person walking on the side of the road?
It’s not about you being okay after the crash (though that’s good news). It’s about all the things that could have happened to an innocent bystander because of your lazy negligence.

Proper maintenance of a car is first and foremost. If you aren't going to do something even as basic as the brakes...
I have my wife car sitting right now because of an unknown vibration (first assumption is a U joint) It's staying put until it gets TOWED to the dealership to have them fix it under warranty. I’m not driving it because it’s dangerous for everyone on the road.
I was young and stupid once, hell I’m still stupid, but even I knew to never take a cars maintenance for granted.
Hopefully you have learned a lesson from this. When your car ‘talks’… listen.

As for the car in its current state…
It’s pretty much pooched as others have said.
Old 04-25-2012, 11:39 AM
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Originally Posted by C230 Sport Coup
unhelpful rant
Down boy!

I was poking around on EPC and I didn't see any front 'sub frame' part numbers:



At least the rear has a subframe listed:


I'm wondering if that's chassis/frame damage. I wouldn't trust it being 'repaired'.
Hopefully Glen will pop in and clarify if the front subframe is replaceable, or if ripping the mount points off = totaled car?
Old 04-25-2012, 12:00 PM
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Holly crap get new brakes already.

Geez, you broke portion of the sub frame that holds the lower control arms.... This is gonna hurt. It looks like part #100 in the first pic you posted in your last post. The big bastage that holds up the motor... and essentially what your entire front clip holds onto.. You definitely bent your sway bar too.

NEW BRAKES
Front sub frame (Labor intensive job)
Front sway bar
Front sway bar endlink
New wheel + tire
New fender lining
Old 04-25-2012, 12:10 PM
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The car is not worth fixing. It wasn't worth buying when he bought it.. maybe you guys don't remember. As Frank pointed out, the subframe is broken. Frame damage.

I don't buy the brake failure thing personally. I think it was too fast for the car to handle it. Stupid, but at least you acknowledge that. Given that no one was injured and just the car is a loss, it's probably for the best. Next time save yourself a load of trouble and money and buy a Toyota.


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