So a couple months ago my neighbor smacked the rear driver side quarter panel while I was parked in the street on the first light snow of the season. It seemed like a minor fender bender at first and insurance paid 3800$ plus I got to keep the car with a clean title. Afterwards, my first plan was to take it to get aligned. They found one of the control arm bushings was bad so I went ahead and replaced them both and got it aligned best I could. They told me that they couldn't tell what but something was bent in the rear driver side wheel, but whatever it is very minor as they got the alignment near straight. It does almost look like the wheel is bent forwards in the wheel well compared to the other side but on and off the car, the camber/toe look exactly like the other side. A couple months after, I noticed both rear tires were bald. The front right also has minor uneven wear towards the inside of the wheel. Sometime near when I noticed the bald tires, I started getting a shake in my steering wheel back and forth only while I am accelerating at lower speeds, around 25-40. I have got a new set of tires but would really like to pinpoint what is causing this and any ideas would help! I have already tried tightening all the control arm bolts again and thought it helped a little but the steering wheel shake is still there. I haven't been driving her and would love to get her on the road asap, thanks in advance for any help!

 

Have you checked the hub/bearings? Jack the wheel up and push-pull on the wheel; ANY play you can feel is too much. Do that on all 4.
If anything is bent from the impact you should report it to the insurance company. The swing axle has bushings that can wear out.

 

From what I’ve seen, these cars don’t fare well with rear impact. I saw one with what looked like very minor damage to the left rear, but the sun roof was torqued and wouldn’t operate or close completely. Prolly needs a some work on a straightening rig at a good body shop.

 

If the rear wheel is hit, the following may be bent:
shock absorber strut;
control arm;
torsion beam at the wheel hub attachment point;
wheel rim (but this is unlikely).
The first two points are easy to assess visually after dismantling.

I don't know how insurance is arranged in your country. At home, I would report hidden defects and demand repairs at the insurer's expense. Including replacement of damaged tires.

 

No play at all in either of the rear wheels. Here are some photos I was able to get, I will take some more with the wheel off later. She has over 220k miles but everything suspension wise was perfect before the crash. I did have to replace the front control arms before I got it aligned after I got it back from the insurance adjuster. I accidentally used the 19.5mm ball joints but have since gotten that straightened out, I believe this added to the rear tread situation since I put a good amount of miles on after getting it back. They were able to get the alignment pretty close but told me to take it to a frame shop to see what is truly damaged. I plan on doing that today just haven't had the time. I may even just buy the axle from a junkyard and do a whole rear end swap at this point. I do have a rear sway bar and was able to measure that, I know that whatever damage/bend there is, is towards the left wheel itself. I have been driving it very rarely and would just love to get back into it as a daily driver lol.

Right side for comparison

 

Also, the rear bushings looked fine upon inspection.

 

It looks like the rear axle beam has shifted to the driver side. Take some measurements

 

if you look at photo #1 right wheel and photo #3 left wheel - no measurements are required. It is visible to the naked eye - the left wheel is critically shifted forward. Replacement of the beam is highly likely.