front end damage

[96Ford]

Hello all, i have a question about a recent accident in my 96 ranger. i hit head on into a gaurd rail in the snow and airbags went of steering was blown, got it towed to my house and i started pulling everything apart that was damaged and now i am thinking i might be screwed and have frame damage.. i'm going to try and make this as short as possible.

At first i didn't look close enough and started to try and reconnect the steering shaft that broke at the u-joint right below the column and i was not able to get them to connect because the shaft coming from gear box mounted on frame rail was sticking into cab too far. i then proceeded to look and it actually may of bent the frame causing the steering shaft to be pushed which in turn is what actually broke the shaft in the accident. Unless these things are just really hard to connect? im not sure. i'm just wondering if anyone has any helpful input. i have 4 pictures that just show the front end damage and to me it looks like the drivers side frame rail is kinked which may of transferred back further to steering pump and gears, i can also provide alot more info if needed.

 

[simpler=better]

I can't tell form the pics, but don't panic. If it turns out to be bent-frames can be "easily" straightened, there are homebrew methods and shops that specialize in repair.

 

[96Ford]

Thanks for replying to my post. And ok I was freaking out after I realized I couldn't connect steering.. I will take some more pics. But I also thought that people don't even straighten bent frames anymore? And what are the consenquences of straightening a bent frame? Just weaker?

 

[bronco2fan]

Repairs aren't really weaker when done. My 84 Bronco II was jacked pretty bad almost 15 years ago and it tracks and drives fine. Yours being a 96, it has more plastic then mine did. Hopefully your insurance pays or it may be costly. Most of the time if airbags deploy they tend to totally them out, depending on the year I thought. Just call around to repair shops and ask.

 

[96Ford]

Unfortunately it is considered my fault and I didn't not have any collision coverage.. I'm going to ask around at shops. But I want to try and get as much done by myself as I can. I'm going to get as many pictures this weekend to show you guys the damage and situation. I did actually get some progress today but still having trouble. I got steering connected with a bunch of prying and forcing but it is not connecting right or square. When I turn the wheel it clicks and gets stuck then jumps and continue turning. I hope it's just the shaft bent or something along those lines and not the frame causing the shaft to be miss aligned or pushed towards cab. Like I said if I'm going to take pictures so it's better understandable. It is the 2 rod connector thing that connects right at the firewall inside cab.