worst day of my life.

[pspradlin2]

took my cj7 out this afternoon and hit some pretty simple but nice trails. went through some water holes with sand bottoms and up some slick muddy steap hills. on the way home an older man pulled out in front of me i changed lanes but long story short there was no way to avoid me since he decided to shove the front of his crown vic under my driver side rear 35" tire. needless to say i ran him over and spun side ways across four lanes and jumped the curb. my brake line are broken and some thing is bent on the passenger side rear and the diver rear wheel is dented and the tire has a chunk missing. what i want to know is if any one has been here before and is my baby headed for a salvage title?

[inVERt'D]

Well, that sucks, but thank God no one got hurt (presumably). If that turned out to be the worst day in your life so far, it seems you were due. I've rolled my rig twice, and I can laugh about both those days. I never claimed insurance on either on those rolls, so my rig was never totaled, and never in for service. Check the CarFax. How mechanically inclined you are may make all the difference.

[kirkandsylvia]

I would have to agree with inVERT'd..you are very lucky. As far as your rig, when you say something is bent in the rear, is it making noises, driving slightly sideways like if the wheels arent tracking correctly? I had a similar event happen yrs ago, and I found that the pin that aligns the leaf springs with the u-bolt plate had sheared off the head, allowing the axle to slide back on the leaf spring. This caused the vehicle to drive down the road slightly sideways. Possibly the axle tube might be bent from the impact. That would be noticeable if you hear a grinding noise as you drive it. The axle would be rubbing the inside of the axle tube. It's kinda hard to say if it's a "total" without actually seeing it. Jeeps are definitley a sound and sturdy rig. They seem to take a beating before they give up. Just my :2: Good luck with it, and again, good to hear that no one was hurt in all of that.

[pspradlin2]

well i have no choice but to file a claim because there was another person involved, and a witness called 911. i know i am luck and when replaying every thing in my head i am puzzled as to how all four wheels managed to stay on the ground. i think the problem is just a bent rim because it wobbles back and forth as it rotates and there is no noises. and it still drives straight. however there was some brake fluid under the tire after i got home so not so sure what all is going on. more to come when i can see it in the light.

[OU812]

It takes a lot to total a Jeep. Your insurance company may disagree. But that is because they don't know the difference between value and worth. Your Jeeps value can be found at kbb.com and NADA.com. But its worth can only be found with you the owner. Is the money the insurance company would give you worth finding another Jeep? Even if your rear suspension is tweaked and if your rear axle is bent and broken. Why not take the money from the insurance company and upgrade your axle. Maybe even a lift? Is your body damaged? How about some corner guards? If you insurance company tells you that your Jeep is totaled ask them to "retain salvage". This means that they will give you cash for the value of your jeep, less theire determination of the remaining value of your jeep. Then they will issue a salvage title in your name. You will have some cash for some upgrades and you will keep your Jeep. A few months down the road you will be cruising the desert in a Jeep that is more capable and better looking than it is now. I say that unless you have a yearning for fuel injection and stylish square headlights keep your Jeep.

[Roger]

There are tons of CJ7 parts available. I wouldn't be quick to accept it being totaled. Even if your frame is bent, it can be easily straightened. I am curious, do you have full coverage? Seems unlikely on that old of a vehicle. Is the other party 100% at fault? If so, get every dime out of his insurance you can.

[pspradlin2]

well he is completly at fault and i have liability insureance. but he left before the police got there so i dont know if he has insureance or if he was drunk, i dont know because he was so quick to leave. i know that the only problem is in the the rear axle there was no other damage that i have seen so far.

[inVERt'D]

when replaying every thing in my head i am puzzled as to how all four wheels managed to stay on the ground

That's what I was wondering just from your description of the accident. Forget the fact that CJ-7s were notorious for flopping when they were new. Maybe you had help?

Ok, in between counting your blessings make a list of the following:

Stuff that I or a mechanical friend can probably handle:
1) replace bent rim
2) possibly replace tire (unclear on that "chunk," but it sounds like it holds air?)
3) replace ruptured brake line
4) check for damage to brake drum.
5) check for damage/ looseness @ both rear springs & hardware
6) check for damage to both rear shocks; any suspicious fluid?
7) check jeep for other miscellaneous damage; loose bolts, nuts; lube chassis (this should be ritual on your part anyway)

Stuff that likely will require specialist tools:
1) check axle housing for straightness
2) check frame for straightness; possibly out of square or twisted (suspect due to nature of accident)
3) have 4 wheel alignment done at alignment shop; have them check and advise on any issues you may have missed

Assuming insurance is involved, get estimates on everything, whether you can do them yourself or not. At the very least, the parts will need paying for. Old guy in an old car probably has at least a $500 deductible, so he'll be the first one to get hit by any high estimates. Someone was merciful to you, so avoid the temptation to be vindictive.

You didn't mention any body damage, and it sounds like it's probably tracking fairly straight, so if the frame is bent, it's apparently nothing too bad. Professional frame straightening can be expensive, so how you deal with that may depend on whether dude is covered. A replacement rear axle could be got for a few hundred bucks--maybe even an upgraded one.

Keep us posted.

[Old Fart]

Forget the fact that CJ-7s were notorious for flopping when they were new.

Most of that notoriety was media hype, and several "staged" tests. My daily driver in high school was a lifted CJ-5 (back when Miller and Jack Daniels were two of the basic food groups ), it doesn't surprise me that he stayed on his feet.

Damn near nothing on a -7 that can't be replaced, rebuild, or fabricated from scratch

[inVERt'D]

I believe that it was a hyped-up flaw, and something that is more or less inherent in all Jeeps and SWB, solid-axle vehicles. However it compares to other Jeeps, the "staged tests" demonstrated that it didn't take much to flop it, even on level ground. Maybe it was part of the hype, but if it wasn't stated, it was least strongly implied that the -7 was less stable than the -5. Don't know how that works, because the -7 is longer and wider, right? I've seen Ford Explorers and other, more stable vehicles than Jeeps on their lids on the highway, just because of some swervy suspension energy buildup.

CJ-7 aside, I think his recount of the accident speaks for itself. I don't care how good your reflexes are, you gotta walk away from something like that feeling damned lucky at the very least. Regarding your pickled youth--I've known some who didn't survive that kind of stuff; you might count your blessings as well. :wink:

[jpflat2a]

you're alive, breathing, and un-hurt.
how can that be unlucky ?
anything else can be repaired, rewelded or rebuilt.

[blackZZR]

I totalled my TJ just a few months back. I was sick when it happened and had way to much money into it to watch it be towed off. Anyway I settled and kept the jeep and am now rebuilding her. I really miss wheeling her and am excited about the rebuild.
Glad you are ok, it could have been worse. I went sliding on the roll cage for 150 yards and it was not a pretty site, However the next day she fired up and besides a few bent parts and the body looking like hell, it runs like a top. I think the insurance just finaced a few mods thats all.

[inVERt'D]

By the way, I've still got that windshield frame. PM me if you're interested.

[pspradlin2]

well guys i have been looking at every thing and thinking hard about what could be wrong. it drives straight and all the only problem is that the right rear wheel wobbles when rotating. im sure the only thing that is bent is the rim. as for the brake fluid... its not. its diff fluid leaking out from the side of the axle near the drum. just a broken seal? any way i will be moving this sunday and monday. next weekend is o long one so as soon as i get all my tools setteled in their new places i will be diggin in to the whole rear end. i will get some pictures up so you guys can see how little is really dammaged. The whole thing about me not flipping is just crazy. i dont know how but i stayed up but i did and i am so greatful. i have four inches of lift and 35in tires. just doesnt add up but i am counting my lucky stars. thanks for all your ideas, input, sujestions.

[Rock_Crawler_97]

oh wow... Sorry to hear about your accident bro... Glad to see you weren't hurt, and amazed that it didn't roll... Someone was on your side... :-)