cackshifter Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 Some unfortunate soul in a Clio tested his crumple zones by charging into the back of my 90 - SWBO driving, but she had stopped to let something through a gap, with her foot firmly on the footbrake. So far damage seems slight, I can see it split the towball cover, bent the towbar drop plate slightly, and left a scuff mark on the lower right side of the crossmember rear face. I'm just going to have a mooch underneath, but if anyone has any hints and tips on where else I should look for damage, could you please let me know. The driver made off but she got the reg number. Nigel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discomikey Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 check the chassis rails are both straight, and the crossmember/chassis rails joining welds for cracking, then check it all for squareness. to be honest, i dont think it will have done any real damage as these things are built to tow and unless you have a rotten crossmember, it should take 800kg of shunt. if you think of the snatch recoveries some poeple do with no damage as a result. im sure it will be fine if you have a rear mounted fuel tank check its not fractured in the impact, cant imagine it would of though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 the clio 's crumple zone will have taken majority of the force, after doing the checks above, I suspect it'll be fine, just straighten or better replace the tow drop plate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cackshifter Posted September 4, 2012 Author Share Posted September 4, 2012 Western, I think you are making light of contribution of the drop plate, it yielded by several mm. Seriously, having had a look it doesn't seem to have done much; the crossmember was replaced with a galved one about 2 years ago, and is pretty much as new, it's obviously had a bit of contact but nothing it can't handle, everything seems Ok - the towball cover was actually Ok when I cleaned the paint off it, so I think I just need a drop plate from the perpetrator. It's a relief, I didn't want/need that and I have been at work wondering how it is. Thanks for your thoughts. Nigel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 Mine got a shunt a couple of years ago I think it was a Corsa, (something little) which went under a bit as I have a receiver hitch, in the end I took it to my local Landy man who stuck it up on his ramp to check things easier to get a look further down things and check all the bits with some decent light on it. I also wanted a second opinion to check that nothing was amiss and it seemed a good idea to get someone to look at it that spent their life under Defenders. Cost me nothing and gave me piece of mind, that everything was good. Jason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 Western, I think you are making light of contribution of the drop plate, it yielded by several mm. Seriously, having had a look it doesn't seem to have done much; the crossmember was replaced with a galved one about 2 years ago, and is pretty much as new, it's obviously had a bit of contact but nothing it can't handle, everything seems Ok - the towball cover was actually Ok when I cleaned the paint off it, so I think I just need a drop plate from the perpetrator. It's a relief, I didn't want/need that and I have been at work wondering how it is. Thanks for your thoughts. Nigel no intention of 'making light' of your circumstances, a good look underneath & at the cross member/towbar joints/bolts & a straight edge down the chassis would show up any discrepancies, worth asking a good garage to have a look as suggested above by Jason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cackshifter Posted September 4, 2012 Author Share Posted September 4, 2012 Western, Sorry I meant it only in jest, the Clio apparently got well mangled, I think we were very lucky to escape with such trivial damage. The drop plate is 10mm steel, so doubtless, although it bent slightly, the clio yielded much more than the plate. I do intend getting it checked out but there's nothing obvious, and it drives fine so fingers crossed it'll get a clean bill of health Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CwazyWabbit Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 Worth chasing up the clio driver though .... if only to laugh at the remains of their car Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiger Posted September 4, 2012 Share Posted September 4, 2012 I doubt Solihuls finest is hurt But.... I 'd get that whiplash seen to ASAP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted September 5, 2012 Share Posted September 5, 2012 I doubt Solihuls finest is hurt But.... I 'd get that whiplash seen to ASAP Yeah thanks for putting my premiums up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluehaze Posted September 5, 2012 Share Posted September 5, 2012 Similar happened to me last year: http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f7/mot-then-some-156036.html Be careful of the insurance company - they all want your money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
choc-ice Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 I think a good guideline is that if the hatchback is able to drive away, you'll have no damage. When someone drove their Peugeot into the back of my Stage 1 a few years ago the most damage was the shock of how loud a crash is. It sounded like the end of the world from inside the car! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PS_Bond Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 I got clipped by someone driving into me at a roundabout a few years ago - tore their bumper off, broke the headlight and trashed the wing. Took me ages to work out that she'd caught the back tyre - the only damage was some scuffing. (She decided to change lane from stationary as I was approaching a red light in a clear lane - leading to the delightful harangue of "you're supposed to give way to the right on a roundabout"...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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