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Post by teachndad on Feb 16, 2015 0:28:43 GMT -5
Hi,
My son slid his 2000 Corolla into a curb at an angle (25 degrees?) 3 months ago and we are finally getting to working on it. The front right wheel took the first impact and has a dent or two. The rear wheel hit second and got bent up on impact. It is now unusuable. I currently have the space saver spare on the right rear. All three stabilizer bars were bent or twisted on impact. We pulled all of those off and replaced with a used set that were in better shape than the originals. Everything appeared to have lined up when we replaced all the bent bars and looks good to the uneducated eye. That's not my concern.
My concern is that I noticed today, that the right front wheel is noticably toed out (I would guess 1") when the left wheel appears to be lined up. This would explain that when we drove it around the block to test it out, the steering wheel was turned 90 degrees to the left(if memory serves me correctly). I went underneath and looked for 20 minutes searching for something that was bent and couldn't find anything. I checked the right side and then the left looking for something different.
Will a front end alignment correct the toeing out of the right front wheel? I was expecting to do a four wheel alignment after everything was replaced, but didn't catch the front wheel issue.
Any thoughts?
Rod
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Post by 7thgen7a on Feb 16, 2015 8:13:50 GMT -5
The steering rack bushings may have been damaged. There is one that has a bump in it to locate it in the position. Or the tie rod the took the most damage is a little bent. With the rack bushings, look for stock spot on the rack that would give it away. Hope this can help bud.
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Post by Rinconrolla on Feb 16, 2015 9:54:55 GMT -5
If you have a photo it would help a lot , but what I have read if you easily bent parts those can be replaced and the can be aligned , As far as front wheel alignment I don't know where you live but all pep boys do a all wheel alignment especially if car has the set up in the rear ,my recommendation is if your taking it to a shop that only does a two wheel alignment I would be not going there anymore , the times are for a all wheel alignment ,
Plus pep boys does free alignment checks and if you need things worked on they will give you a estimate of parts you need , if you feel like you cn replace them yourself then just tell them to back the car down go home fix it and then go back for a alignment
If no pep boys there try other places and see if they offer the same services , but do a all wheel alignment and if you have a set up buy some camber bolts before you get a alignment
Your struts might be bent as well have you checked those that happen to me a long time ago -
. Post pics of your ride in the member section bro
good luck
.
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Post by teachndad on Feb 16, 2015 11:08:36 GMT -5
Thanks for the replies,
There is a Pep boys less than a mile away. Good suggestion.
I am going to scream if the strut was bent. We just replaced the fronts a few months ago. Ugggh.
I will see about posting pix.
Cheers
Rod
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Post by teachndad on Feb 16, 2015 16:33:24 GMT -5
Hi, Here is a gallery of images from the front right suspension assembly. Photo album 2000 Corolla right front suspension partsWhile taking the images, I removed the mounting bolts for the strut near the brakes. The only way to get the brake assembly to look like it was lined up was to push it back, but the holes on the strut wouldn't line up. The base of the strut doesn't look bent in any direction. I have an appt. with Pep boys late on Wednesday for a free alignment check. Cheers Rod
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Post by Rinconrolla on Feb 16, 2015 20:05:05 GMT -5
In this photo looks like something shifted look how you have a new black mark What happen here ??
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Post by teachndad on Feb 16, 2015 23:36:09 GMT -5
In regards to the black mark: the initial impact was with the right front tire hitting the curb. My assumption would be that the impact would shift the front sway bar towards the left side of the car. However, in this image, the black mark appears on the right side(passenger side) of the sway bar clamp (picture was taken from the front looking towards the rear). I would have expected the black mark to show up on the opposite side of the clamp. It's perplexing to me why it shows up on the passenger side of the clamp. Today, I loosened the bushing clamps and tapped it lightly with a hammer to move it back to the original position. This did not noticibly change anything. The second image is of the bent up parts from the right rear suspension which hit after the right front wheel. Control arms were twisted or bent in various ways. We swapped those out on Saturday with a brand new rear strut and new control arms. That swap went really well for a first time. Here is the aftermath of the impact as seen below for the rear. I hope that helps.
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Post by teachndad on Feb 24, 2015 23:01:01 GMT -5
Hi,
Update: I went to Pep Boys for the free alignment check and the tech there said that he could align the front with a four wheel alignment. I still had my doubts. I am no mechanic, but the toe out just seemed way out more than an alignment could be adjusted. I decided to get a second opinion.
I then went to the internet and found a local alignment shop that had been there for years with 25 5 star reviews on Yelp. I decided to take the car to him - an older guy with suspenders and grimy hands. The guy pulled it up on the rack lifted it and then quicly recoginized that the front lower control arm was bent and suggested I get a lower front control arm with the knuckle attached to it. I just felt more comfortable with this guythan the young tech at Pep Boys. I told him I would return to give him my business when I got it all put back together.
I found a seller on Ebay and bought a control arm for $37 including shipping. Arrived today and looks good.
The new left rear matching strut arrived today and two new rims will be her by the end of the week. This weekend we put it all back together and then I can take it back to him.
Cheers
Rod
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Post by Rinconrolla on Feb 25, 2015 9:04:02 GMT -5
Sweet deal , to bad you don't do a diy on that - but good idea for a second opinion cause I knew something was bent - to be honest for that price and your doing one you might as well do both and change all your sway bar bushings and links , I know sometimes ebay got good deals on parts you can get ball joints as well as outer tie rods , while your in there you might as well that's what I did when I did my struts lol
but keep us up dated
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Post by Rinconrolla on Feb 25, 2015 9:07:45 GMT -5
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Post by Rinconrolla on Feb 25, 2015 9:08:52 GMT -5
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