Question for you guys... A few months back I was driving along and had a turn "sneak up on me", when I went to turn into the drive, my front wheels hit a slick spot (thin ice), which locked me up, and my truck slide fast towards a median. Up on the median was several signs, so I tries to crank my wheels away from the curb because I didn't want to hop the curb and take out the signs. This caused me to take the entire impact on my drivers side wheel, almost flat to the curb I'd guess. I got out, checked things over, and all seemed ok... But not long after that I developed a groan (almost like a "honk" sound) in sharp turns and a loud humming sound and vibration from that wheel (hub assembly?), and now here in the last couple of weeks I've developed a clunking sound that I think is the strut- also from the same side. My passenger side is completely fine. Is it all a coincidence? Would that sort of impact damage a wheel bearing and/or strut? Too late for insurance? I've never dealt with something like this! Any advice?
I'd say it is related. Have someone check it out. If you know someone who is a mechanic that is even better.
It would help to know some specifics of the vehicle (make,model, 4x4?) It sounds like some damage has been done. If it is a wheel bearing, they will make a humming noise when driving straight and if loaded (turning right load the left side) the noise will lessen or go away completely. If it is 4x4 or front wheel drive, You may have damaged a CV shaft.
This would be my reply as well. I used to do alignments for a living. Bearings normally make the groaning/whine noise and the clunking can be several things. Usually a hub bearing going out will groan during either a left or right turn, but not always. It's also possible by the description of impact that you could have damaged the front differential, but that's the less likelier scenario. As for the clunking, I would doubt if it's a shock. Could be a CV shaft but that usually has a clicking sound to it during sharp turns as well. You mentioned ice, were you in 4WD at the time? Could be something as simple as a broken stabilizer link, more of a rattling clunk. Can you feel any if this either in the steering wheel or through the floorboard? Another possibility would be upper ball joint, but this would be the least likely scenario as well. The vibration could be that tire is out of balance now, either knocked the weight off or just impacted hard enough to throw the balance off. A busted belt in the tire could create that as well. I'd recommend takin it to a competent shop and getting an alignment check done. They should check ball joints and tie-rod ends before ever hooking the sensors up. The test drive will give them an idea of where to look and if caster or camber is way off it could point to a not so noticeable bent suspension component that could be putting tension on other parts causing premature failure.
