Incident this Morning

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PrAzZz
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Incident this Morning

Post by PrAzZz » Mon Oct 18, 2010 2:44 pm

Hi...

Was driving to work in the morning and had a bit of an incident on a roundabout with my back end sliding out. The roundabout has a steep curb and nothing but grass in the middle. My car slid round and kinda just went straight into it, then slid round to a stop in the middle of the grassy bit. No visible damage on the outside of the car. I got it back on the road and car seems fine. Tracking seems ok, its not veering to either side but when I turn right I get a slight mechanical sounding noise coming from that side. Not sure what that would be but obviously I have gubbed something :(....

I will need to take a trip to Edinburgh to get the guys at Murrays to check it out. But before I make the long trip (almost 100 miles), can anyone recommend a place in the Greenock area that I could take it to so that they can have a quick look so see if its safe for me to make the journey?

Thanks...
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Shug
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Re: Incident this Morning

Post by Shug » Mon Oct 18, 2010 2:47 pm

Have you cleaned out the wheels? Could just be a stone in the brake caliper - happens often. Can't help with anyone in the Greenock area, but Bertieduff is from around your parts, so perhaps worth a PM?
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PrAzZz
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Re: Incident this Morning

Post by PrAzZz » Mon Oct 18, 2010 2:53 pm

Nah, not tried cleaning the wheels. I'm just waiting for weather to clear up a bit and take it out for a quick spin. I was just a bit shaken up earlier today.

I forgot Bertie existed. I will give him a shout. Ta.
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bertieduff
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Re: Incident this Morning

Post by bertieduff » Mon Oct 18, 2010 2:55 pm

Oi, I'm here! :D

You have PM :thumbsup
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PrAzZz
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Re: Incident this Morning

Post by PrAzZz » Mon Oct 18, 2010 2:56 pm

loll... bertie to rescue :P

Have you guys got nothing better to do? :)
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bertieduff
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Re: Incident this Morning

Post by bertieduff » Mon Oct 18, 2010 3:03 pm

No, not really :tired

*sigh*
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Shug
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Re: Incident this Morning

Post by Shug » Mon Oct 18, 2010 3:20 pm

PrAzZz wrote:Nah, not tried cleaning the wheels. I'm just waiting for weather to clear up a bit and take it out for a quick spin. I was just a bit shaken up earlier today.

I forgot Bertie existed. I will give him a shout. Ta.
Understandable mate (being shaken up, not forgetting Bertie ;)). If you slid backwards with your wheels locked up on grass, it could have piled into the backs of the wheels and brake calipers (fronts more susceptible) and you could just have some junk rubbing the disc when you put some lock on. Very worth a look though - if you can jack it up, get one side up at a time and swing off the wheels, checking for any movements or clunks - also rotate them and listen for any grinding. Also, check out wishbones and toe links for any bends (they should be straight, so have a steel ruler or straight-edge to check)

You might well have got away with it, but best to check.
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philthy
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Re: Incident this Morning

Post by philthy » Mon Oct 18, 2010 3:56 pm

wasnt the IBM roundabout by any chance??
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PrAzZz
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Re: Incident this Morning

Post by PrAzZz » Mon Oct 18, 2010 4:28 pm

"wasnt the IBM roundabout by any chance??"

Yeah, was there. U didnt see me in the morning did you? :(... My car tends to slide there in the wet, its happend before. So I kind of expected it but just didnt catch it early enough... half asleep on a monday morning and i dont think my brain has quite adjusted to crappy weather yet.. still driving like its dry...

I just took it out for a spin now, and when I turn right. I can hear a slight creeking noise, sounds like its just behind the steering wheel (maybe half way down to the wheels). I just hope its not too bad.

Thanks for the advice shug. But, I'm clueless when it comes to anything mechanical. So will just get Murrays or somewhere local to check it out...
03 Nissan Micra 1.0 (Silver) ... 0-60 in 18 seconds !!!
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philthy
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Re: Incident this Morning

Post by philthy » Mon Oct 18, 2010 4:35 pm

Good guess :wink: , I just know that is the slippiest round about I have ever come across.

They must have done something to the tarmac when they relaid it as I have seen 3 cars crash right in front of me and I only use it maybe once or twice a week. Its especially bad heading towards greenock up the hill. In the wet the evo can easily spin all 4 wheels on exit.

Where are you from? Im heading down to kip marina tonight
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PrAzZz
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Re: Incident this Morning

Post by PrAzZz » Mon Oct 18, 2010 4:51 pm

Yeah, its a lethal roundabout. I will be driving like a grandpa there from now on...

I live about a mile from kip marina. If your heading over there later today... have a good look at the state of the grass in the roundabout.. I'm hoping the council doesnt send me a bill for it... :)
03 Nissan Micra 1.0 (Silver) ... 0-60 in 18 seconds !!!
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bertieduff
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Re: Incident this Morning

Post by bertieduff » Mon Oct 18, 2010 5:30 pm

The camber is terrible on it too. Been there done that :?

Mind you I've also seen tyre tracks right across the centre on a few occasions. People coming from Greenock obviously deciding just not to bother with it. Possibly the safest answer? :blackeye
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PrAzZz
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Re: Incident this Morning

Post by PrAzZz » Wed Oct 20, 2010 9:45 pm

Got the car checked out earlier today, at local garage recommended by Bertiee...

They said its fine, no major damage. Another lucky escape !!! But, Im still taking it to Edinburgh in a few weeks to get a full alignement done. Maybe its just in my head but it doesnt feel like its cornering like it was before. See how that goes... I was just worried I'm about to get shafted with bad news from the garage...

Thanks again to Bertie and the guys at the Repair Centre in Greenock...
03 Nissan Micra 1.0 (Silver) ... 0-60 in 18 seconds !!!
04 Mazda RX-8 (Silver)
58 Lotus Elise R (Starlight Black)

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robin
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Re: Incident this Morning

Post by robin » Thu Oct 21, 2010 8:51 am

Wise move to get the underside checked out - it's possible to bend steering components, as well as to damage the subframe. Unlikely in this case I suspect.

If you're on a flat bit of road and get the car going in a straight line, is the steering wheel properly central?

If you then let go of the steering wheel, does the car veer left/right violently? It will always veer a bit due to imbalance in caster angles left and right, but you'll probably know what it used to do anyway?

If the steering wheel is in the middle and the car doesn't veer violently left or right, you've probably not bent anything important :-)

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Scotty C
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Re: Incident this Morning

Post by Scotty C » Thu Oct 21, 2010 9:24 am

what tyres are you running?
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