Date:         Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:25:19 -0800
Reply-To:     Matt Drew <t3vanagon@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Matt Drew <t3vanagon@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Front End Damage-Opinions Please?
Comments: To: syncro@yahoogroups.com, wet Westies <wetwesties@yahoogroups.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Volks-

First off, things are starting to look much better for Blackbeard.
The body shop's estimate has come in considerably lower than what the
insurance adjuster initially submitted.

Only problem is that they don't touch the mechanical stuff . . .

So I've contacted my shop and am going to have them write me up an estimate
for repair work - sight unseen.

That's where y'all come in.

Background:
I rear-ended a car at roughly 15-20 mph a few weeks back.

Here's what I know:
* Bumper and grilles are toast
* Condenser is toast.
* Coolant was going everywhere. Assumption is that the radiator is toast as
well.
* I was able to drive home, but the steering wheel was extremely difficult
to turn and would lock into particular positions when turned, unless cranked
out of those positions into other locking positions.
* Frame is straight (confirmed by the body shop), so the steering rack would
seemingly not be the reason for the steering difficulty.

What I don't know (and am hoping for some feedback on):
* Is there any other damage typical in this type of accident that may need
repair that I haven't considered?
* Steering difficulty - how many reasons could there be for this?
   -Only thing I can come up with is that the column needs to be replaced.
   -Note: The guy at the shop said that he didn't experience any trouble
driving it from where the tow dropped it off to where it currently resides.
I don't know how far that is, or if it included any turning. Just wanted to
throw that in.

Bottom line is that I'm having my mechanic put together a "worse-case
scenario" and I want to make sure that I'm not missing anything.

Any feedback is GREATLY appreciated!


Cheers!

-Drew
'90 GL "Blackbeard"

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