4 Wheel Drive/SUVs: 1996 Toyota Tacoma, rear drive shaft, drive shaft

Question
I have a 1996 toyota tacoma 4 wheel drive standard cab pick-up.  It has a 5 speed manual transmission and you have to lock the front hubs to put it in 4 wheel drive.  The other day while my car was parked on the side of the road someone hit my right front tire at about 45 miles an hour.  Their car was totaled.  My car has no visible body damage, however my tire is bent in slightly and my car won't drive.  The other persons insurance company says they think it just needs a new drive shaft.  I was a little surprised... it seemed to me there might be more wrong with it.  Several people have even said they are surprised the frame isn't bent.  I know nothing about cars, so I was wondering if you could give me some advice on what I, as the owner of the truck, should be looking at to make sure the car is completely repaired so that I don't have to worry about other problems cropping up later.  The auto shop that has my car says they can't put it up on their rack and see what is wrong with it until the adjuster tells them what he'll approve.  Prior to this my car has never had any problems and the only work I've had to have done is routine maintenance.  Do you have any advise you could offer me? thank you.

Answer
Laura,


Without looking at it, it's extremely hard to guess what is wrong.  From what you have said, I doubt that it is a drive shaft.  The front drive shaft only works when it is in 4-wheel drive, and the rear drive shaft only operates the rear wheels.  If you are in 2-wheel drive, then the rear tires should try to move the Tacoma, even if the front wheel is in a bind of some kind.  It sounds like you have a front axle problem, and the front tire or brakes are in a bind.

I don't know what insurance you have, but some of them will give you a list of body shops, and recommend one or two.  I am a little leary about the one you went to, as insurance companies normally don't tell the body shop what is allowed until they have an estimate.  If a body shop is waiting for a quote from an insurance company, they may just be looking to see how much they can bill.

Call the insurance company, and question them about the body shop.  Talk to an adjuster if you can.

Carl