i got it.
every time i read about how my truck is about to shoot a half-shaft into orbit and send tie rods across state lines, i fret for half an hour, and then just forget about it... and the truck keeps going. the underbody protection is toasted, couple cosmetic blemishes, lots of gouges in the frame, but the alignment is still good and there's no hint of anything being damaged.
but for the moment i'm in my half hour of fretting.
