Wheel Alignment Mess-up

[BakeR318]

A close encounter with a deer on a back road caused me to swerve, after going round a very tight corner at around 5-10mph, and run up on a mud bank. No body damage but the wheel was covered in clumps of mud and dirt. However, on the way back on the main roads, I noticed that the steering wheel wobbled back and forth slightly at speeds from around 30-45mph, and then disappeared after 50mph. Think I messed it up enough to knock the wheel outta alignment, or is it the mass amounts of mud that are offsetting the weight? I feel dumb for hitting the bank...sigh.

[tiFreak]

Originally Posted by BakeR318

the mass amounts of mud that are offsetting the weight?

it could be that, or you could have knocked a couple of wheel weights off

[aceyx]

Originally Posted by BakeR318

Think I messed it up enough to knock the wheel outta alignment, or is it the mass amounts of mud that are offsetting the weight? I feel dumb for hitting the bank...sigh.

It's not dumb to hit the bank instead of the deer; they do a lot of damage.

It's probably the mud creating an unbalance. Remember, they use 1/4oz increment weights on the wheel, which tells you what a small amount can do to upset balance. This happens a lot in the snow too.

Rinse the wheels and report back.

[thesk8nmidget]

i have hit embankments with other cars and mud and sticks and dirt can sometimes get inside the tire.

i would rinse and check after that, also if it was an alignment problem it would be more like your car would want to swerve or pull one way. sounds like balance issues also maybe a slightly bent wheel.

[BakeR318]

Thanks guys. Weight off my shoulders...I washed off the wheels really good and drove it about a mile and back and the wheel no longer wobbles. Thanks for the super fast replies..they'll make me sleep better tonight.

[BakeR318]

I just read your post midget..and I checked to see if the wheel looked bent at all..and it didn't, and I figured that since I was only goin around 10mph and I hit a mud bank that it wouldn't really be enough to bend an alloy wheel. Seems everything is fine

[thesk8nmidget]

yes its always a relief to fix the problem so easily!

glad its all worked out!

[BakeR318]

Me too! On another note..I just read that entire article/thread about the kids in the M5 getting killed after an airstrip run..really puts my little 'accident' into perspective. What a horrible accident