Expert: Michael Kakuk - 1/12/2010

Question
My 2007 Camry was hit on the left side of the rear end. My driverside rear tire was pushed inward and underneath the car. As a result I also had an indentation on the roof between the front windshield and the moon roof. The insurance adjuster stated that it wasn't from the accident. The car has been fixed and the body shop took care of the dent. The focus of the repairs was the area of the accident. I wasn't advised that anything was done to check the integrity of the overall structure and I discovered that once the car is raised the rear wheel is touching the wheel well. It seems it has a wrong year strut installed. It seems like it's for a 2006 camry. my questions are as follows.

1. Is having the wrong year strut safe? This issue makes me concerned about the overall safety of the car. If these type of matters are overlooked.

2. Should I be concerned about structure damage to the overall structure of the car due to the impact? and is there a way to get that checked out?  

Answer
NOEL.....THE REAR WHEEL SHOULD NOT BE TOUCHING THE BODY OF THE CAR.
ASK THE SHOP FOR A COPY OF YOUR ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATIONS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN PERFORMED AS PART OF THE REPAIR PROCESS.

IF THE SHOP CAN'T PROVIDE YOU WITH A BEFORE AND AFTER PRINT OUT OF THESE THEN REQUEST THAT
THEY PERFORM AN ALIGNMENT WITH PRINTED OUT SPECIFICATIONS AT NO COST TO YOU.

WITHOUT SEEING THE ESTIMATE OF REPAIRS IT IS DIFFICULT TO TELL WHATS GOING ON.

THE ALIGNMENT CHECKS THE POSITION OF THE WHEELS IN RELATION TO THE VEHICLES CENTERLINE AND IF THE ALIGNMENT CHECKS OUT OK THEN THE LOWER BODY IS GENERALLY OK.

MIKE