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Trying to eliminate every possible gremlin, I also am wondering about the shocks. Is it possible, during the several times they've been reinstalled by both me and the repair shop last year, that the shafts have been spun so much during the tightening process that they will feel infinitely soft? Is this even possible?
Since the bushing is okay then I'd check the lower arm (probably bent) and eliminate that problem before making any other changes/guesses.
Re ride height, I don't know if there is any recommended settings, though yours seem reasonable (nothing too crazy; lowered less than an inch all alround, fairly even side to side). Camber and probably caster also will affect final ride height also, though probably not significantly.
The arm doesn't appear to be bent. Even if I pulled it off the car, I'd have to pull the other one off, too, to compare them. Any ideas? Would one recommend replacing both simultaneously? Unfortunately, I have an extra rear lca, not a front.
As for the height, I planned on lowering all four corners about two complete turns in order to keep as much of the corner weighting in tact as possible.
Added: the underbrace appears to be bent. Could this be a hinderance to getting add'l caster?
When I bent my lower arm, I had another that I could compare it to and only with measurements could I tell that it was bent. I don't know if it's feasible to take measurements with them on the car; might be possible with the car on a lift?
Probably worth just replacing it. If in the accident there was contact with the wheel then the lower arm is almost certainly bent.
Originally Posted by rlaifatt,Apr 8 2006, 02:57 PM
When I bent my lower arm, I had another that I could compare it to and only with measurements could I tell that it was bent. I don't know if it's feasible to take measurements with them on the car; might be possible with the car on a lift?
Probably worth just replacing it. If in the accident there was contact with the wheel then the lower arm is almost certainly bent.
You mean like this:
Not sure if this is the front or rear tire, but they both suffered the same fate. Forgot to mention that the front LCA was not replaced during repairs... the rear one was.
Just ordered a lower control arm from Hardtopguy. Hopefully it'll be here by Thursday, install Thursday night, and realign on Friday in time for autocross on Saturday. This'll give me a chance to reacquaint myself with the car before the Dragon.
Thanks for all the help, everyone! And to think folks gripe about paying $50 for a membership. I've saved tens of hundreds by learning how to do things for myself with the help of generous members. I'll be sure to follow up with the results of my findings so that maybe it might help the next person.
LCA is on the car. Before installing the new one, I tried to line the two up in order to determine whether or not the old one was actually bent.
It definitely appears to be "not the same." Friday she gets re-aligned and cw'd again(I lowered her a bit more). I'll report the end results. Thanks again for the help.
I've saved tens of hundreds by learning how to do things for myself with the help of generous members. I'll be sure to follow up with the results of my findings so that maybe it might help the next person.
