Side swipe 2 cars with no physical damage to the Ranger

[h2thamfk]

So there I am, heading down a residential street doing 25 last night. On my way to the store. I'll counting some change in the palm of my hand when all of a sudden, there's a loud noise and the Ranger's pulling hard to the right giving the business to first a 02 Mitsu Galant and then to a 93 Nissan Sentra. As I fight the wheel to get back left off of both cars it's over. I pull of the road. Everybody in all houses around come out and can't figure out who had done the damage. Cops come I fess up, exchange info, I leave the truck to deal with in the morning.
Next day, I come back to the scene of the accident. The Galant's jacked up. Both driver and passenger door, front quarter panel. Blew their tire off the rim and separated the bead from the rim and tire. Oh, and the front bumper was ripped completely off. As for the Sentra, it came out pretty well, just minor dents.
As for my 92 4X, well first off I drove it away. Second there was no body damage except for a dent right next to the head light, I believe from the side mirror of the Galant, and the fender well from my passenger wheel being slammed back and then forced 90degree for approximately 2 foreign car lengths.
While driving it home everything seems fine except for the major rubbing (which occurred even prior to the accident due to the 275/75/R15s BFG All Terrain TA's) of the tire against wheel well. I can't turn to the right to well and I'm leaking power steering fluid. After getting up on jacks I still can't seem any physical damage underneath either. I didn't get the tire off yet cuz it started raining, but I'll like to continue this post with updates.
I guess my big question is what do you think my worse case scenario is, ie replace the whole front end. The arm that runs to the back of the truck has a mark from the tire but it doesn't look bent. But obviously something is. That will probably be noticeable when I take off the tire. If anyone has any insight I'm open for suggestions. And I'll update tomorrow with some digital photos. Thanks in advance for reading. Plus, it was a pretty good story...

 

[jimbo74]

get an alignment nd see if it is still in spec..... take it to a frame shop to get it checked out.... it may appear that nothing is wrong, but there can be underlying frame damage, especially if it was able to damage your power steering mechanism and tear up the two lesser vehicles so easily... NEXT TIME, PAY ATTENTION TO THE ROAD!! (I am one to talk ) Lukily, no one neither you or anyone else got hurt... Also, being a residential area, good thing no little kids were outside at the time... Tearing up a car isn't as devastating as killing an innocent kid... Glad all turned out OK. Get that truck checked out.... Where in the BA are you?

 

[h2thamfk]

I live up in Pleasant Hill, near Walnut Creek. Jim, all things considered, I did come out pretty clean. Down side is I only had liability on the truck and all repairs come out of pocket.
After thinking more about it, I only have about 30% turning ability to the right and it definantly looks like the tire is sitting about an inch farther to the back of the truck than it should. But like I said once I get the tire off I'll have a better idea. Thanks for the reply.

 

[jimbo74]

do you know Zenzius? he has a cool explorer and lives up in pleasant hill too..... sound definately like some frame damage... look into some frame shops... its amazing what they can do.... (i only have liability on my truck too... when repairing it, try to see if you have some friends who know people ) i did that and by buying my own parts and using friends of friends with a shop rebuilt my $7000 in damage under $1500

 

[h2thamfk]

No, I've never chatted with him, but I did check a few of his posts. The rollover pics a good one...
I hear you on the friends go a long way. I'll be buying a lot of 12ers in the near future. Stay tuned for pics tomorrow, I'll have a better diagnosis then.

 

[h2thamfk]

Upon further inspection...

It looks like I've broken the steering gear shaft assembly. It's leaking fluid from the gear box and when you turn the wheel left and right you can see the shaft itself move up and down, like away from itself and back together all while spinning. It's wierd. But I figure start with the power steering see what that solves, then, once it's working properly, I can tackle the possible bent radius arm and/or ball joint assembly. There's no visual bents but you can see where the tire rubbed on the radius arm and where the tie rod hit.

I still need to find a good alignment shop. They should be able to give me a clearer picture. Thanks for the help.