Well, the wreck was really not that bad. I was only doing 30MPH when the car slipped off a ramp and hit a few trees. The damage was all around, though:

Right Side damage

Front left corner

left side damage

 

It looks pretty bad to me from a structural standpoint. Did they have to stretch the frame?

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by gernby
[B]It looks pretty bad to me from a structural standpoint.

 

Werd.

I had a '91 Integra that was rear ended really bad when it was 1 year old. It was sandwiched between the car in front and behind me, so every panel had to be replaced but the doors (roof and parts of the floor too). The initial repair estimate was so low, they decided not to total it, but the final cost was way higher. With all the frame work that they had to do, the car was never the same. They couldn't even get the wheelbase on the left to match the right, and it didn't have adjustable caster or camber, so I had to install an aftermarket kit.

 

Please forgive me for asking the obvious, but: are you sure all four wheels are still true?

 

Good point.

 

I'm pretty sure they are, two of the wheels that were hit were replaced anyways. I have even tried with borrowed wheels from another S2k owner.

Thanks!

 

How about the power steering rack mount?



If the rack can slip to the left or right, it will change the steering wheel centering. I've never had it apart, but it looks like part #9 is a pinch clamp, which if not tight, could allow the rack to move a bit and throw off the centering. Same would hold true for damaged bushings, #18.

That doesn't explain lots of changing camber though (very small camber changes will result from toe changes, because of camber gain from the caster angle...but that's an entire topic onto self).

 

Windscreen: I wish people working on my car had diagnostics skills half as good as yours!

Some of the problems I have with the steering might have something to do with what you suggested. The only catch is that the steering rack was replaced as well and all the bolts/etc have been torqued and re-torqued quiete a few times by different shops.

This also does not explain why the rear wheels go out of alignment since it all starts from there - I mean, the alignment process.

 

Mas, have you finally had this problem fixed? Looks like I have a similar situation!!

My front caster and camber settings are fine, as is the entire rear. However, the front toe will goto toe out rather quickly. Again, nothing on the car seems amiss and all bolts have been secured and rechecked several times.

Car has 92.000km on it. I've inspected the control arm bushings on the car and they all seem fine. Steering feels great without play. Steering wheel sits at about 11:45, not sure if that is within tolerance. The only indication something is wrong is that the inner edges of both front tyres wear out very quickly.

I'm wondering why it's BOTH tyres going to toe out. That would probably indicate something central was broken, perhaps something with the steering rack.

///Robin