Wrecked my S2000 at Mid-Ohio in July. Hit the right rear into the wall first followed by a tap on the right front. The right front hit backwards with the wheel turned to the left, so the tire took the biggest hit being pushed forward and left. Nothing apparently broken or bent.

The first week I had it back a vibration developed into a severe knock and shaking of the steering wheel. There was actually a loose bolt where the tie rod joins the right front hub.

After that was tightend down, it feels like I have a front-end vibration that is tough to track down. Seems to occur under hard braking and left turns. Can't feel it through the steering wheel, but can feel it through the chassis.

Anybody out there have suggestions on dealing with front suspension damage that might be too subtle to notice? Any suggestions on weaknesses on mounting points, control arms, ball joints or other areas where damage could be lurking?

 

Bent wheel or separated belt in the tire? Have you tried putting the tire/wheel on the other side of the car to see if the vibration moves with it?

 

Have you checked the welds on the brackets that the upper control arm bolts to? That's a common failure point, even without a collision.

 

I'd bet on a bent lower control arm in the front. Unbolt the front lower control arm that hit and match it up with a new (or used) one to verify it's exactly the same. FF2Skip had a very similar accident and chased alignment settings for a while until he replaced the front lower arm. Similarly, when my upper control arm broke, I couldn't tell the difference in my bent lower arm and the replacement until I held them right beside each other.

 

Good ideas. I'll keep you posted.

 

I'd say wheel bearing

 

OT:@ lguyinoh :

when you dynoed your car, what was the baseline