MrRoper Posted May 3, 2013 Share Posted May 3, 2013 (edited) Hi all, Firstly the accident was totally my fault, I was being a d*ck..lesson learnt! Long story short I ended up sliding into a curb with my rear wheel (im sure you can guess how) which ended up bending the front lower link (camber arm). This has been replaced today and also a new rim put on (thanks ZMANALEX) the mechanic that did the work said that everything else looked ok, and I had a good look underneath also and couldnt see any other obvious damage. When the car was back on the ground, the wheel now had much more toe out that the other side and after trying to align, although we got closer, its obvious that something else is bent. I`m just wondering if you guys have any ideas what to look at next? Im thinking maybe the radius arm, however it seems that if this was bent there would be more toe in rather than toe out? any ideas guys? Edited May 3, 2013 by MrRoper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodatcrashing Posted May 4, 2013 Share Posted May 4, 2013 I would get under the car and measure the dimensions of all the suspension arms and compare LHS to RHS as accurately as possible. My toe out issues a couple of years ago turned out to be the rear lower wishbone (cast aluminium spring mount) which had deformed slightly but was not noticeable by eye. At the time, I also broke the hub carrier, camber and trailing arms but these were easy to identify as most were in 2 pieces. It's a harsh but good lesson to teach yourself to keep it to the track. Keep us informed of progress and best of luck fixing it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrRoper Posted May 4, 2013 Author Share Posted May 4, 2013 Many Thanks for the reply, Was it the rear lower link, the one with the spring cup? I know in your thread reagrding your issue you mentioned you replaced the hub carrier and upper wishbone also? Regards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodatcrashing Posted May 4, 2013 Share Posted May 4, 2013 Yes, it was the spring cup. I did also change the hub carrier and upper wishbone too but they were twisted quite badly and were easy to identify. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seabee Posted May 4, 2013 Share Posted May 4, 2013 Hmm my car was a cat D and I couldn't get it lined up so I bought some D2 racing adjustable camber and toe arms, I went to three different garages and non could spot what was bent. You got a PIC of this part with the spring cup? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrRoper Posted May 4, 2013 Author Share Posted May 4, 2013 OK, im going to get the car on the stands tomorrow and try measuring all the suspension arms to see if one is slightly out. Im just hoping this isnt the damn sub-frame It wasnt a hard hit, and so far have seen much worse on the internet! SeaBea, This is the part he means, which im suprised bent as I thought it was cast alloy. However its the most obvious arm on the whole assembly to be causing my issue as it directly controls toe angle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seabee Posted May 4, 2013 Share Posted May 4, 2013 http://www.350z-uk.com/topic/60542-4-wheel-alignment-problems/ Ahh that looks familier I didn't notice it was bent and neither did the other garages. As you can see in my post I had a toe issue as well do you think it will be visible once removed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrRoper Posted May 4, 2013 Author Share Posted May 4, 2013 (edited) I wasn't sure it could bend! However It can only be this part, the hub carrier,the radius arm or the subframe that is causing my issue. Camber arm has been replaced and that was the only damage visible to the eye . I`m hoping taking measurements between the two mounting points as seen in the pics will show a difference between the two sides. Something is bent..Its just finding out what, as cheaply as possible!! If that doesn't show anything then I think I'm going to change the Radius arm and the rear lower link (spring cup) as part of a "ruling things" out process. What arms did you install? the link is dead on your thread :S Edited May 4, 2013 by MrRoper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seabee Posted May 4, 2013 Share Posted May 4, 2013 I might do the same mine is sorted now as I bought adjustable camber and toe arms and the originals didn't look bent but still if something is bent I wanna get it sorted lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrRoper Posted May 4, 2013 Author Share Posted May 4, 2013 Was your wheel toed too far out or inwards? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seabee Posted May 4, 2013 Share Posted May 4, 2013 Toeing in If I remember rightly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrRoper Posted May 4, 2013 Author Share Posted May 4, 2013 Im not sure if that part bending could cause toe in, Any bend would tend to shorten that piece and Toe out the wheel? I could be talking bo**ocks though as I am no expert mechanic! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seabee Posted May 4, 2013 Share Posted May 4, 2013 Well that would make sense I'll try and dig out the before and after papers I had just to be shore Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodatcrashing Posted May 5, 2013 Share Posted May 5, 2013 Yes, a slight bend that reduces the length in the spring cup would cause toe out because the spring cup centreline is behind the axle centreline. If you struggle to find any differences in dimensions, try swapping various LHS and RHS arms around and visually checking the alignment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrRoper Posted May 5, 2013 Author Share Posted May 5, 2013 (edited) I think I may have found the culprit.. Firstly the spring cup arm does look slightly more bent thatn the other side (it seems they have a slight bend towards the inner fixing point by design) but this might be my eyes and wishful thinking, however I know you all like pics and the pic below might be the cause. This is the Hub Carrier side of the same arm with what seems to be a knackered bushing and maybe even a bent bolt? Im going to replace the spring cup and radius arm next and if this fails the Hub Carrier. Edited May 5, 2013 by MrRoper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seabee Posted May 5, 2013 Share Posted May 5, 2013 Here are my readings from before I installed the adjustable camber/toe arms to the car. would you agree that its toeing out? (im no expert in reading these lol) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrRoper Posted May 6, 2013 Author Share Posted May 6, 2013 I would say that is toe-ing out, positive toe is toe in afaik. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrRoper Posted May 6, 2013 Author Share Posted May 6, 2013 Did a bit more digging around today and manged to get it in the air to have a look with the wheels off. I think you might be onto something GoodAtCrashing... My two rear lower arms are different lengths, I have measured both sides from A to B and the side with the issue seems to be about a centimeter shorter!! :o I measured this a number of times as 1 centimeter seems huge and its not obvious to the eye. Replacing this next and then will take it from there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrRoper Posted May 10, 2013 Author Share Posted May 10, 2013 Shes fixed! It was indeed the lower rear arm (spring cup) that was causing the toe out, and it looks like the bushing for this arm in the hub carrier is fine. Just needs a good alignment now but my steering wheel is straight again! Thanks to Alex for putting up with my inane questions and getting parts out to me quickly (great service!) and also GoodAtCrashing for pointing me in the right direction. SeaBee, I would deffo look at getting your spring cup arm(s) replaced as any damage is impossible to see by the naked eye, and was only evident after measuring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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