As I was driving home in the snow tonight I attempted to make a left turn but I didn‘t have enough traction. I tried to recover by turning out of the turn, to the right, in order to get back to the main road . I didn‘t make it. My front left tire and wheel hit the curb while it was turned to the right. My wheel is visibly bent and I realize I will have to replace it but I am not too sure about my axle. The next time I took a right turn I could feel as though my tire was hitting the body of the car, behind the tire and wheel. Is that normal for a messed up alignment or is that characteristic of something bent in the axle region.
Busted axle I have heard of but not a bent axle. If the axle did have a bend I would think you would get a vibration while driving. Could have bent the spindle, strut, and or lower control arm.
its not likely you bent the axle if your still driving it. check that your plastic inner fender well and plastic bumper guards are not out of place and rubbing the tire. usually if your alignment is bad your steering wheel will be a few degrees off center but no tire rubbing in most cases. its more likely that you hurt the wheel bearing then axle. you can get an idea of your bearings condition by grabbing the affected tire by the top and rocking it back and forth forcefully perpendicular with the car. if it knocks and clunks its prob bad, but dont use this as the final determining factor when deciding if your wheel bearing is gone, take it to a mechanic because a knock could be something else like a ball joint. or it may not make any noise at all and still be damaged. when you get your wheel changed get the mechanic to check your bearing.
If the wheel doesn't wobble when it is turning, it is not the wheel or axle. If it sits at the same angle all the time something behind the wheel is damaged. Take it to a shop and have it checked properly.
