Here is the back story: Car is purchased used in 2006, damage measuring 1/2"x4" is discovered under the right side strake (looks like curb damage) a 3 months ago, when taken to alignment shop a month ago my mechanic says that he can only get -1.5* camber in the right rear and he says something is probably bent, he installs a bump steer kit last week and is still unable to adjust the camber and maintains that something is bent, this weekend at the track I did this to the right rear wheel and LCA:





FYI, here is a picture of the static LCA/wheel relationship. There is a ~1/2" of clearance between the two pieces.




The damage is very slight on my right rear street wheels and very pronounced on the track wheel. Car is on stock suspension. Alignment is -1.5*, 1/8" toe-in with Megan bumpsteer kit.

What are your thoughts? Thanks in advance.

 

I can tell you what bends real easy...the knuckle.

See if the knuckle (right where the lower ball joint presses in) is closer to the tin backing plate than the other side of the car.

 

The knuckle or lower control arm are bent, or both.

LCA's, Knuckles, Toe links all bend easily when driver caused oversteer makes the rear end of the car turn before the front.

 

I will take a look at Bill's suggestion.

"driver caused oversteer"? This car is all about driver caused oversteer, isn't it? Are others bending rear suspensions and showing similar symptoms?

Thanks for the responses

 

I've been in more s2k's backwards than I care to remember. I don't go on ride alongs with a driver trying to "show" me something on the street.

The last car ended up with the brake rotor in 4 pieces, and every component in the left rear corner broken. It also bent the tabs on the subframe the toe link cam bolts ride in.

After the car was fixed, it's next owner did the exact same thing, only ripping off both bumpers at the same time.

 

Well, it looks like the knuckle is the culprit. I took multiple measurement of the upper and lower control arms as well as the knuckle and compared them side to side. The UCA and LCA were identical, but the knuckle measurements has differences from 1/16" to 1/4". Thanks again gurus I'll report back when the new knuckle is in and aligned.

 

Well, the new knuckle is not coming in until later this week and I have a track event this weekend. I will not have time to install and align this part this weekend, so my questions are...

Should I be concerned about any failure resulting from stressing an already bent knuckle? Should I be concerned about the strength and integrity of the chamferred wheel? I am deciding whether I want to run the chamferred wheel on the bad side again, or switch in a clean wheel and run the risk off scrapping up a second wheel.

That in advance UTH heads

 

^I would personally be worried. Probably more about the wheel failing vs. the knuckle. Odds are that nothing will happen but...

 

The wheel looks to have minor damage. I'd run it.

 

You're right, the knuckle does bend easily ...