Originally Posted by
white_n_slow
Think about all the cushion thats built in before the frame factors in. Tire deflection and breakage (if they popped, I'm sure they moved quite a lot before doing so, dissapating the force of the impact), and several soft rubber bushings, and then suspension arms which are designed to bend before breaking. Sure, if you curb check hard enough, it'll definitely bend the frame, but you essentially have to knock the wheel hard enough to move it a couple inches or more inboard before that will happen.
That said, if the alignment and driving characteristics are unaffected, the frame for all intents and purposes isn't bent. My guess is that the body shop was trying to make some dough.
I agree, but the shop diagnosed it w/a computer which basically mapped out his whole frame and stuff. so, his frame was infact bent, however I remember now that he was telling me that it was a matter of sheer coincidence that he hit the curb in such a spot on his wheel as to not cause any damage to the axels and all the suspension components.
Because I remember another case where another guy broke his wheels out and he was very close to the curb, and his rear wheel went sideways into the curb. Now I remember looking at the wheel and I could actually see, even from afar that the wheel was sitting at an angle. Needless to say the car would not drive and it had to be towed, he basically bent his rear axle.
Thats actually a pretty sad story, because the car was a brand new M/B CL55, and it was a valet parking attendant who did that to it.