ACR VECTORED TOWARD TSTM TURNS FOR WX AVOIDANCE.

Narrative

WE HAD RECEIVED A HDG OFF COURSE DUE TO OTHER TFC. THE ASSIGNED HDG WAS TAKING US DIRECTLY TOWARD A BUILDING TSTM WHICH WAS APPROX 25 MI AHEAD WHEN WE RECEIVED THE HDG ASSIGNMENT. WE REQUESTED SEVERAL TIMES AN ADDITIONAL TURN IN ORDER TO VISUALLY AVOID THE TSTM BUT THE FREQ (CTLR) WAS VERY BUSY AND ATC NEVER ANSWERED OUR REQUEST. WE INITIATED A 90 DEG TURN AWAY FROM THE XING TFC IN ORDER TO AVOID THE TSTM AND IN THE PROCESS WE FLEW THROUGH A PORTION OF THE STORM WHICH NECESSITATED A HIGH ANGLE OF BANK AND CAUSED US TO VARY OFF ALT UP TO 600 FT. ONCE THE TURN WAS COMPLETE AND WE WERE CLR OF THE STORM WE WERE ABLE TO NOTIFY ATC OF OUR ACTION AND RECEIVED CLRNC BACK ON COURSE. PERHAPS WE SHOULD HAVE REFUSED THE HDG CHANGE OR REQUESTED A DIFFERENT HDG WHEN IT WAS FIRST ISSUED IN ORDER TO AVOID THE STORM. SEVERAL OTHER ACFT WERE TRYING TO FIND 'SMOOTH RIDES' ON THE RADIO WHILE I WAS TRYING TO REQUEST A SAFE RIDE. THERE MUST BE A BETTER WAY TO ACCOMPLISH AVOIDANCE OF TURB THAN TO USE UP VALUABLE TIME ON THE RADIO.