farkis644

Hey guys,

I need your help please. Last night, sadly, I swerved to avoid hitting a deer and smacked a curb on my drivers side front wheel.

I was able to drive it home as I was close but things are defiantly wrong.

Alignment is 100% screwed obviously as the steering wheel is at 8 o’clock when it should be at 12. The drivers side wheel is slightly bowed inward now. If I make the drivers side wheel straight, the passenger is not (turned slightly left). If I could guess, I would say I have potential issues with ball joint, control arm, wheel bearing?

Best news---No body damage aside from the wheel rash. Tire is good, airmatic is working as it should.

I know its all speculation on suspension damage until it can be put on a rack but——Does anyone have any guesses on how bad things are? Any advice on next steps?

Lastly, I’m up in the air on whether I should tow it to a trusted body shop (does all body work for Benz dealer) or my trusted indy? What do you all think?

Any help would be VERY much appreciated. Thanks all.

tlambert

Like you said. It’s all speculation until its on a rack and inspected.

It could be numerous parts involved to do the repair.

Anyone that tries to tell you what’s wrong on here is only guessing.

Get it it towed to your Indy shop and get it looked at.

cfmistry

Sorry to hear about this. As mentioned, it needs to be looked at closely. I'd recommend a trusted indy -- if you don't have one, then take it to the Benz bodyshop. You are very lucky the cosmetic damage was limited to the wheel only!

Yuille36

Sorry to hear about your misfortune. But I agree with cfmistry take it to a trusted Indy shop first, as their labor rates are much cheaper.
If there aren't any, then the dealership second. But be prepared to open up that wallet.

farkis644

Thanks for the responses guys. I’ll be prepared to open up my wallet or an Insuranse claim, lol.

Strigoi

If the damage to the wheel is only cosmetic as it looks in the pics it's for sure repairable. If you're going through insurance get a brand new wheel. Any opinions on damage incurred from this incident are just speculation as already mentioned.

Sulaco

Would filing an insurance claim place an accident in the car's history?

farkis644

Yes, I believe so.

Yuille36

Any accident reported to the insurance company, will be well documented in the vehicles history. And will also appear in the CarFax report.

jbaker1121

get it up on a lift and check tie rods and control arms, probably bent or broken - not a super hard fix to swap them out... Don't call insurance just yet

farkis644

Looks like bent tie rods and front alignment only at this point. Crossing my fingers thats it. Ill see after I get those replaced but this is great news so far!

Anyone know the best place to source a single front wheel?

Yuille36

farkis644 Give these guys a try https://www.stockwheels.com/Mercedes...1&pageNumber=1

Exotic-metal55

Look for wheels on ebay, for a quick source. Glad you missed the deer, as you have huge bodied deer up there in KY.

farkis644

Now it is looking like I need a steering knuckle (bent), lower spring arm, and ball joint. Looks like I may need to do insurance now. Does anyone know the part number for the knuckle?

whoover

https://www.newparts.com/product/gen...eft-2113306620

farkis644

Thanks! Have you had good experience with these guys? Fast shipping? I read some negative reviews is why I ask.

whoover

I didn't mean to endorse them. It was just the first hit that came up with a good illustration of the knuckle assembly.

anomadtoo

https://benzparts.autohausofpeoria.c...kle-2113306620

Strigoi

Providing they report it. Not all things end up on CarFax. There is a high likelihood that it will get reported though.

Yuille36

Is is very true.