My friends jeep ZJ got hit today. A toyota corolla decided to jump a light and hit his front passenger wheel as he was making a turn. The only damage to the body is a few dents, but the front axle is pushed over to the drivers side a bit. Whats the best way to fix this? I was thinking strapping my truck to it and pulling the axle back into position. I've attached some pics below.

Also, any local guys wanna get together this weekend and have a mod/repair day at my house? I have jacks jackstands, tools, compressor, welder, etc. Food and drinks provided of course, PM me or post up here...he wants to get his truck fixed as he was planning on going to RC on the 12th. Thanks!!

you can see the axle pushed to the drivers side a bit
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q44/sendjonathanmail/bentfront.jpg

bent mount
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q44/sendjonathanmail/Photo-0039.jpg

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q44/sendjonathanmail/Photo-0040.jpg

I wouldn't trust those stamped steel arms after a hit like that. time for a lift. how do the mounts on the axle and frame look?

I haven't seen the truck yet, im going to take a look at it in a bit. If anything once its pulled back into place I can weld on some reinforcements to the mounts.

i dunno if this weekend is good for me, not sure what the schedule looks like

ill let you know

thanks bro, i work saturday till 3, but after that im free and all day sunday too.

did the toyota hit and run or did he stick around....if he stayed shouldnt insurance fix it?

the toyota stuck around and the cops came blah blah but he wants to get it fixed because it should be pretty straight forward and he wants to make RC.

A body shop should be able to get it done if he gets it in there before the end of the week....atleast all the ones around here could get it done that fast. I'd check around before you start doing it yourself, but thats just me.

When he got in an accident with his last truck, it took the insurance adjuster a month just to come look at the car and he finally got his money a few weeks later. He thinks it can be done at home without much difficulty. BTW, it has a 2" lift

I'd be calling my lawyer long before a month passed.


My mom got hit two years ago and a State Farm adjuster saw it the next day. It was back in our hands in under ten days. She got hit on the front drivers side, way more damage than that to her Trailblazer.


Its a shame that your buddy has to go through something like this. I'd still give the insurance company a shot.

ehhh just leave it, maybe it will flex one side out better :)

lol, I was just over there and the drivers side is fine, the mount isnt even bent. The passenger side mount (on the axle) is bent and cracked on one side, so I plan to just pull it straight, weld the crack then weld some reinforcement on that mount and he should be good to go.

i would be careful with that....i have owned 3 jeeps and i have done it all.....he most likely bent the trac bar either at the axle or frame...either way thats where i would start first...the axle mounts are cheap and luckily bend easy so he may have been spared bending all the stamped steel control arms but i would def get a really good look at them.....check that uni body and everything up front to see if its bent......i dont suggest just hookin a truck to it and pullin it unless you wanna really get that thing all out of wack, loosen the front end up.....disconnect the trac bar front the axle, jack it up and let the suspension drop and completely decompress, shake it around, set the truck back down and shake it side to side some more.....this should pretty much center the axle under the truck and allow you to hook up the trac bar hopefully, if its not bent :)...def look into welding on that axle tube the right way...not criticizing you just saying i know it is rather touchy with the technique or else the wleds may pop once cooled, and there are plenty of seals and bearings you dont wanna fry either....dont forget to check the hub assembly, alxe shaft which is gona have a cv shaft not u joints, and anything else up there...........honestly check and expect the worst and just hope that the trac bar bent up and twisted along some small things.....trust me i am still building an xj back up from a 20 mph rear end collision where it was nothing "major" ..a year later....if you have any issues let me know, i know jeeps inside and out......before my x thats all i swore by.....sorry guys lol