So, I drove my 4runner into a ditch today (question inside)

[1985taylor1925]

I took an alternate route home from my base today, and ended up stuck in a ditch for the first time in my life.

So it was a back road, covered with snow, and surronded by farmers fields. With all the snow we've gotten in the past week, you couldnt tell there was a ditch there. It just looked like a flat surface of snow going across the road and into the field. So I looked down at my ipod for a second, and got my passenger wheel into the edge of the ditch just a bit too much, and just like that the angle of the ditch and deep snow pulled me in. I cranked the wheel hard to the left, but the ditch was too steap. With the snow being around 2.5 feet deep, and heavily packed, and the ditch being steap and icy, I couldnt get enough traction to crawl out.

The snow was about 2.5 feet deep, and really packed and heavy. And the edge of the ditch was icy. So armed with no shovels, but three hockey sticks in the back seat, I began digging.

So how I got out . . . I had a giant Ford king cab super duty diesel with two guys in it drive right past and look at me. Never even put their brakes on. Then two more guys in a lifted dodge truck dove past, again just looked at me. Finally a nice lady in a van stopped to help. Then shortly after, guess what dove up and stopped to help me . . . another lady, driving a 4RUNNER! No lie. She happened to have a strap with her. We hooked up, and she pulled me out in about ten seconds. Good people drive 4runners.

So heres my question:

I was going pretty fast (40ish) when I went into the ditch, and my passenger side hit a pretty good sized bump. I have a really bad shake in the steering wheel now, very obviously coming from the passenger side front end. It gets progressively worse as I speed up, to the point that the steering wheel is shaking like crazy. Theres no shake on braking, so rotors should be fine. What do you guys think? Im thinking either I may have thrown the alignment WAY off, or bent a rim? Or even damaged the hub. I dont think it would be the tire. Im getting an alignment tomorrow so we'll see what that does.

What are your thoughts?

 

[Singtoe]

probably have some snow or ice or mud on the inside of your rim.


Or could had a piece of ice knock off a wheel weight.

 

[the great him]

yeah im gonna go with you packed some snow into that wheel and its balance is off... go out and check the wheel for any snow(or mud) accumulation, knock it off/lose if there is any and then try and drive it again. even if their is no snow or ice buildup id say drive it again now that its had a chance to sit(snow melts and it might have fallen off once it was stopped for a little bit).

 

[shadow247]

Chances are its 1 of 2 things. Either you knocked a wheel weight off, or you have snow/ice buildup in the wheel. Try hosing down the wheel to knock off any of the buildup and give it a spin. If still vibrating, go have the tires balanced. If that doesn't fix it, you may have destroyed the lower ball joint. If you've spent any time on the forum, you know the LBJ is a common failure point.

 

[Desert Fox]

Isn't it illegal to drive a 4Runner without a tow strap in it?


No shovel I think you just get a warning. No tow strap is 60 days driving a KIA.

 

[4runner269]

Chances are its 1 of 2 things. Either you knocked a wheel weight off, or you have snow/ice buildup in the wheel. Try hosing down the wheel to knock off any of the buildup and give it a spin. If still vibrating, go have the tires balanced. If that doesn't fix it, you may have destroyed the lower ball joint. If you've spent any time on the forum, you know the LBJ is a common failure point.

x2 i agree with all of the above.

 

[farmerjon]

To be clear, I liked your story, the part where another 4Runner pulls you out, not you getting stuck

Certainly reminds me of the Good Samaritan parable, big time, because 2-3 people passed you before you got help... Glad you got out alright.

 

[1985taylor1925]

probably have some snow or ice or mud on the inside of your rim.


Or could had a piece of ice knock off a wheel weight.

yeah im gonna go with you packed some snow into that wheel and its balance is off... go out and check the wheel for any snow(or mud) accumulation, knock it off/lose if there is any and then try and drive it again. even if their is no snow or ice buildup id say drive it again now that its had a chance to sit(snow melts and it might have fallen off once it was stopped for a little bit).

Alright, so just so I dont look TOO stupid here, that was one of the first thoughts I had. So when I got home I checked the wheels and there was quite a bit of snow built up in them. But then I thought, naw, that bit of snow wouldnt cause that much wobble. Well, it did. You guys are right. I feel shamed out:

Chances are its 1 of 2 things. Either you knocked a wheel weight off, or you have snow/ice buildup in the wheel. Try hosing down the wheel to knock off any of the buildup and give it a spin. If still vibrating, go have the tires balanced. If that doesn't fix it, you may have destroyed the lower ball joint. If you've spent any time on the forum, you know the LBJ is a common failure point.

Ya, I replaced my lower ball joints about 15k miles ago. Though Im thinking of going to the tacoma ball joints in the near future.

Isn't it illegal to drive a 4Runner without a tow strap in it?


No shovel I think you just get a warning. No tow strap is 60 days driving a KIA.

The funny thing is, I have one of those collapsable mini shovels designed for this sort of situation. I just managed to misplace the thing a while back.

To be clear, I liked your story, the part where another 4Runner pulls you out, not you getting stuck

Certainly reminds me of the Good Samaritan parable, big time, because 2-3 people passed you before you got help... Glad you got out alright.

I am well aware of that parable, and its a good one my friend. Its ironic that my good Samaritan today just so happened to be another 4runner owner.

 

[1985taylor1925]

I feel like I shouldnt have started a thread for this. So mods, feel free to delete it.

Heres a few flying pigs for good measure

:flypig: :flypig:

 

[Scotty_h]

I did the same thing a while ago with a Honda Accord and mud when I fell alseep on a parkway. Had a mechanic tell me in person...

It happens, :shrug:

 

[farmerjon]

I feel like I shouldnt have started a thread for this. So mods, feel free to delete it.

Heres a few flying pigs for good measure

:flypig: :flypig:

Nah, it's a good story and things we can learn from the weirdest things. I personally would have had the same thought as you, that snow wouldn't do that. I'm kinda shocked that was the cause. Perhaps repost this in your build thread?

 

[Iffykid]

Quit looking at ipods and iphones and pay attention to the task at hand :lookout:

 

[jross20]

Truly one of those "shiiiiiiit" moments.
:help: