Uh Ohes... Wheel well warped - Rubbing!

[sudz]

So I'm guessing I got a large amount of snow/slush rammed BEHIND my wheel well... as When I tried to back out of a gas station, A horrible screech came from my front passenger side tire. Just when I was turning the wheel. I took a gander in my very dark parking garage, and the wheel well has been "dented" out into the tire's turning space. This must have happened in the last day or two. Now... I hit a MASSIVE... I mean MASSIVE puddle at 110kph on the QEW this morning. Would water have enough force to bend this out of shape? (the puddle was at least 4-5 inches deep, it nearly sucked me into the gaurd rail)

I'm also glad it was passengerside, as nobody likes waterlocking :-S *glad he has water sheild for mazdaspeed CAI*


Either way, Looks like I'm going to have to jack up my car to fix this. I hope it didn't tear any screw/clip holes. Will post pics when I take them!

How long does it take to disassemble and re-assemble the wheel well? I want to avoid the $$$ of going to a dealer, as I've JUST got enough cash to buy mogul's Rims :-)

[bluemazda3]

that sucks... probably the snow.. i dunno if water would do that... depends on what the damage looks like..

[sudz]

Update:

Took it to oakville Mazda. They'ved ordered a new wheel well and clips. Looks like it tore right off, bent, and permanantly warped the plastic - It'd probably take them longer to fix it and modify it to clip back on (as all the clips/holes are broken) Its still easily driveable, just rubs when I take a sharp corner. They offered to cut it off, but I didn't want salt stones, rocks and slush spray around everywhere, so I opted to leave it on until the replacement comes.

The part was 55 bucks, Didn't even have to ask for the TM3 Discount, it was applied without question :-) (guess they have a good memory!) I'm going in Next Next thursday to get it installed.

[Halogen]

Better your wheel well warp then have the entire wheel mount assembly bend and get damaged. Thanks for sharing the experience though. What size tires are you driving ? I have 225/45/17s and, I notice they rub slightly on very sharp corners.

[sudz]

Smaller than stock! I'm on winters, which is on the stock 15 inch rim. Instead of the standard 195/65/15's.... I'm running 185/65/15. Which means its just slightly less rolling radius.

225/45/17 shouldn't rub unless your offset is... off. Less than 45 i'm guessing?

[theurgy]

For now.. grab a heat gun and have at her trying to mold it back..