Well I've determined that I have in fact "mushroomed" the area where the struts are secured. I hit a pot hole in LA a couple of weeks ago with a car full of people and luggage. I've read about this now on a couple of threads and have not really heard of a solution. A "dealer" approved body shop said that they would have to charge me $2800.00 (sure) to fix it properly. Meaning that they would have to remove the suspension from all four wheels, place the car on a rack type system and then straighten out the metal. The estimator said that it had to be done this way or the wheel may never drive straight again. Well the wheel drives strait now and it didn't even crack or affect the rubber mount?? Any info or experiences would be appreciated.

 

If I understand you, each of your front and rear strut towers has had their tops pushed upward (mushroomed) from all shock/spring assemblys being fully compressed as the car went through the pot hole?

First, how far did the metal move and did each front side move the same amount and did each rear side move the same amount? Try placing a straight edge across the top of each side a measure down to the same spot on each side.

Point being, if the amount of movement is small and identical from side to side (say no more than 12 mm total and within 2 mm side to side), you just lowered your car for free. I am not trying to be a wise guy. If there are no broken or other bent (more likely) parts, and the car handles as it did before, no action other than a careful inspection and perhaps a check of alignment is all that is needed.

If the tower tops are moved more than 12 mm, then I would be more concerned, especially the possiblity of cracks forming around the stretched metal of the tower tops or the shock struts slightly bent.

I am assuming that you are insured and do not want to pay the deductable. When you sell the car, you are obligated, legally and morally, to disclose any unrepaired damage and that could ruin your resale value.

I would not pay alot of attention to what the body shop says unless they are personal friends. Reason is because they will always advise a conservative approach that transfers as much money as possible from you or your insurer into their pockets. They also do not want to be the people that said no problem and then have something happen that would implicate them as negligent.

Given that the car is the premium performance model that you would most likely sell to another enthusiast, I would have it fixed.

Just my thoughts.

Good luck.

 

sent you a pm-are all 4 mushroomed or just one?