Last night at 2 in the morning the 20 Year Old Girl drove her 96 Ford 4 door into the right-front of my Dodge. The Dodge was parked on a residental street and I was asleep.<br><br>Bumper got moved back, the steering gear now has a slow drip, the steering stablizer clamps got &quot;relocated&quot; to a new point on the linkage, and I think the linkage is bent.<br><br>Steering wheel is NOT on center, about 90 degree left is straight. Wicked vibration much over 40 MPH.<br><br>I have a Police Report, will call the insurance people in the morning. Then off to a body place to get quotes.<br><br>Bottom line: I want EVERYTHING checked over. What could possibly hide from a mechanic looking at this type of accident, only to pop up later???<br><br>98 12 Valve, 4x4-standard cab<br><br>By the way, you shoulda seen HER car. Plastic all over, front end mangled, front fender gone, axle bent, dripping, wont start, the works.<br><br>Drove mine slowly to work today. She might not ever drive that car again.<br>

 

I am no expert, but if you have a good body shop, they should do a thorough job. After all, the more they find, the more they fix. Your insurance adjuster should also be a help, if you are with a good company. Beside the front end stuff, I would make sure that the frame is not bent. Sounds like she hit you a pretty good lick.<br><br>Good luck. I just got mine back from the body shop last week. I was without it for a week, felt like a month!<br><br>DeWain

 

Check the intercooler and a/c condenser along with the radiator. Something might have poked a hole in it.

 

Tackdriver,<br><br>Sorry to hear about your problem. It always gives one a sinking feeling to know someone's careless damages one's pride and joy.<br><br>Check with people you can trust and get them to recommend Body shops. I checked with a frient who restores classic automobiles. He recommended a couple. I don't know how the system in NE works? You may need to get 2 or three quotes. In Calif the insurance co must let you choose the body shop. The adjuster works with the body shop on the final amount to be paid. As the shop works on the vehicle, they may discover hidden damage, additional work that was not in the initial agreement. The additional add-on cost of the extra is OKed by the adjuster.<br><br>The last couple of times I had to have work done, I had no contact with the adjuster, after the initial report was filed. I worked with the Body Shop Owner. His business depends on his reputation and doing work right.<br><br>Today's Body Shops are a High Tech business with lazer alignment tools and measureing devices and spectrophotometers to assure perfect paint matches. These shops are a far cry from the old shops that were down by the railroad tracks or in the corner of a wrecking yard where the guy pounding out a fender stopped every 5 minutes to sip on a fifth Jack Daniels. <br>A good shop must meet OSHA standards for cleanliness and work environment. Work with the manager/owner of the body shop and you wii be pleased with what they are able to do.<br><br>