Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Steering Jumped? after son hit curb

Hello, hope someone can help...1998 Countour SE 2.0L. My son convinced my wife he was good enough to drive in the snow the other day....He was wrong and hit a curb. Rim dented, easily fixed with new rim, but the steering wheel appears to be out of where it should be (turned over to left a bit when going straight and I can over steer to the left more than expect I should be able to. Not sure if this is on a track with gear and can jump a cog or two or three or if it is something else. Nothing else appears to be bent or out of wack. Any ideas on what to check and can I correct it myself or how much I should expect to pay...In Niskayuna NY (Albany) area. thanks!

Probably bent part of the suspnsion or at best needs a wheel alignment. No way you could've jumped the gear it would snap before it would do that. My bet is a bent lower control arm maybe a sterring a linkage too. Give your son a slap upside the head!

I did the same thing. Bent lower control arm and a bunch of other crap. not horibaly expensive, but nothing on this car has been chear per say.

I'm happy there is no damage to the son.
Anyone can spin out in the snow and ice..experienced and non.

I am of course glad it is the car and not him or someone else hurt. Thanks for the feedback on what might be wrong from you all. I do not see any bends in any of the linkages or rods, however there is a rubber boot on one of the arms so I cannot tell what might be wrong under the boot. Weird to me that the steering wheel could be that far off (quarter turn) with no visable bends and tires look pretty straight...Judging by the replies on bent arms, ETC...and the lack of time I have during holidays I am going to take it in and spend money on labor (that hurts!) and get it fixed. If I had the time I would make my son get under the car and fix it himself. Thanks and happy holidays to all!