What to do for the best after crash damage
Discussion
Over the holiday I was out in the C6 and while turning a corner lost the car on a patch of ice, resulting in a slide to the kerb banging the back wheel then the front wheel. I wasn't going very fast about 10-15 mph, looked at the wheel there appeared to be just slight superficial damage.
When driving the car over 25mph I could feel a vibration coming through the car, more through the seat than steering wheel.
I took it to a local garage that specialise in American cars the main guy is a friend of a friend and a really nice guy with bags of experience.
After checking it out the rear wheel is buckled and the vibration is coming from the drive train but hard to pinpoint.
His recomendation is to replace the wheel, wheel bearing drive shaft, and do a four wheel alignment.
But the problem could also be in the diff which would then need work if the problem persisted after the first round of replacements.
As this was now looking a tad expensive, I decided to do it through the insurance company, who would provide a courtesy car, if I let them take it to an approved repairer. My other wheels are a van I use for business.
The decision I have to make, is do I let it go to an approved repairer,I then have use of a courtesy car ( I guess all this could take several weeks to resolve especially if the problem lies in the diff)will they have the experience to work on the Corvette, source the parts quickly etc.
Let the specialist carry on.
Take it to a main dealer the nearest one being Bauer Millet.
Any one had a similar experience or can offer advice your thoughts would be appreciated.
When driving the car over 25mph I could feel a vibration coming through the car, more through the seat than steering wheel.
I took it to a local garage that specialise in American cars the main guy is a friend of a friend and a really nice guy with bags of experience.
After checking it out the rear wheel is buckled and the vibration is coming from the drive train but hard to pinpoint.
His recomendation is to replace the wheel, wheel bearing drive shaft, and do a four wheel alignment.
But the problem could also be in the diff which would then need work if the problem persisted after the first round of replacements.
As this was now looking a tad expensive, I decided to do it through the insurance company, who would provide a courtesy car, if I let them take it to an approved repairer. My other wheels are a van I use for business.
The decision I have to make, is do I let it go to an approved repairer,I then have use of a courtesy car ( I guess all this could take several weeks to resolve especially if the problem lies in the diff)will they have the experience to work on the Corvette, source the parts quickly etc.
Let the specialist carry on.
Take it to a main dealer the nearest one being Bauer Millet.
Any one had a similar experience or can offer advice your thoughts would be appreciated.
5 USA said:
Oblackvette said:
the rear wheel is buckled and the vibration is coming from the drive train but hard to pinpoint.
I'd start by replacing the buckled wheel and see if there's still a vibration problem before going any further.I guess a way forward would be to disconnect the drive shaft and see if the vibration is still there.
But as I have decided to do it through the insurance, my initial question remains, who do I trust to carry out the work.
My instinct is to let the insurance approved repair people do it, I get a courtesy car which could be useful if it takes several weeks as I fear it will, and they can be no doubt about responsibility etc the car should come back to me faultless.
My only concerns are how long this will take if the repairers have not got the expertise.
A neighbour works at an Audi main dealer and he tells me that body shop's tend to do the insurance job's even the mechanical one because of the lower hourly rate £40 ish.
The workshop typical hourly rate is > £100 so they only get involved with R8's and the like.
Still the decisions to be made.
Vet Guru said:
Who is good at repairs on a late Vette?
I guess that is the crux of the matter, I wish I knew, especially in my area, West YorkshireAm I being naive to think that the Corvette is just a car and not too different from all the other cars out there, a drive shaft is just a drive shaft etc.
For all their power not too sophisticated, sure the electronics is something else but I assume the mechanical bits I am concerned with are surely pretty standard fare.
Or do the above ramblings confirm my status as a fool.
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