WTF? One wheels sticks out farther than others.. - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

dannyboi · 11-14-2006, 10:16 AM

I took my car to the alignment shop at they says something is wrong with my car since there is less room from the tire to the fender on the driver side. They dont diagnose it since they fail at life and just tell me to get news springs and struts (which is BS since i just put in new aftermarket ones this winter). So i nod and leave.

Then i examine my wheels and the driver side front wheel looks like it has a spacer compared to the other 3 wheels (it doesnt stick out, but its around an inch and half from being flush with the fender.... keeping in mind that i have stock wheels on). The passenger side has about 2 1/2 to 3 inches of room b/t the tire and fender. I also look on the passenger side front wheel and it looks to have a little positive camber (the driver side looks around zero camber). The car pulls to the driver side (pretty bad)... the side with the spacer look.

So whats goings on? I have a feeling something is bent, but what?

(BTW: I searched this topic and I KNOW a few other people on this forum had this problem but I couldnt find the thread even after searching for over an hour.... find me the thread and i'll give you some lovin

)

spanks for your time

pwhitersxs · 11-14-2006, 10:25 AM

Sounds like the car went into a curb. The camber must be real positive for it to stick out like that. This is just a guess though. I would say that something is bent. Make sure everything is secure with your suspension.

thejapino · 11-14-2006, 10:36 AM

mine was doing the same thing, found out the front lca was bent. replaced it, took it to get it aligned, MUCH BETTER!!!

drew935 · 11-14-2006, 05:18 PM

get a wheel alignment or if you got one already, check out the reading for SAI (steering axis inclination). This spec is used to determine if you have any bent suspension arms. They should both read the same. If not then replace the one that is out of spec. There isn't any room for this to be out of spec. So it is either in spec or not.

Wykydtron · 11-14-2006, 05:34 PM

I have the same issue on my rear alignment. Later I found out the previous owner curbed it <=[ so its like... Hella flush on one side and kinda not really with a small spacer on the other >=P Another reason why I am scouring the globe for a coupe!

dannyboi · 11-15-2006, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drew935

get a wheel alignment or if you got one already, check out the reading for SAI (steering axis inclination). This spec is used to determine if you have any bent suspension arms. They should both read the same. If not then replace the one that is out of spec. There isn't any room for this to be out of spec. So it is either in spec or not.

I was trying to but they wont do it until I/they find the problem. I went to Midas for a free inspection and they said all the components are fine.... thus they said i might have a bent subframe (which is what I was suspecting but was in denial). The previous owner (whom i know and he said he replaced all broken parts... except get the frame inspected) slid the front into a curb during winter. So i'm fawked.

So i cant obtain a SAI. Or i can find a different shop to align it as is... but if i have a bent subframe, it would be wasted money. But thanks for your advice.

BTW: anyone know how much it would cost to havea body shop check if i have a bent frame?

I'm dog tracking like a mofo....

R34SKYLINE · 11-15-2006, 03:52 PM

Maybe a previous owner or someone replaced a front LCA with a S14 one instead of S13...assuming you drive a S13.

Dousan_PG · 11-15-2006, 10:24 PM

3/4 of the s chassis i kno whave this problem
even no accident ones
it just happens. deal with it
small spacer on one side. done.

thejapino · 11-15-2006, 10:36 PM

isn't there something like a weld-on adjustable lower control arm kit for the front of our cars? get that

heard of one anyway and i hope that helps

!Zar! · 11-16-2006, 12:27 AM

If you want adjustable lca's check splparts.

Aaron is right.

I've seen many s13's with that problem. It's just as random as the whole, "One side is lower" problem.

Take it to another alignment shop. Because I have friends who had no problem aligning their car with the same predicament you are in.

R34SKYLINE · 11-16-2006, 12:57 AM

Obviously things dont just grow so its probably the front suspension member that shifted any and all of its slop to one side same coudl happen for teh rear sub-frame I'd check tah out if I wear you before trying to fix the problem with adjustable suspension components...

11-14-2006, 10:16 AM	#1
dannyboi Zilvia Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: chicago Posts: 280 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	WTF? One wheels sticks out farther than others.. I took my car to the alignment shop at they says something is wrong with my car since there is less room from the tire to the fender on the driver side. They dont diagnose it since they fail at life and just tell me to get news springs and struts (which is BS since i just put in new aftermarket ones this winter). So i nod and leave. Then i examine my wheels and the driver side front wheel looks like it has a spacer compared to the other 3 wheels (it doesnt stick out, but its around an inch and half from being flush with the fender.... keeping in mind that i have stock wheels on). The passenger side has about 2 1/2 to 3 inches of room b/t the tire and fender. I also look on the passenger side front wheel and it looks to have a little positive camber (the driver side looks around zero camber). The car pulls to the driver side (pretty bad)... the side with the spacer look. So whats goings on? I have a feeling something is bent, but what? (BTW: I searched this topic and I KNOW a few other people on this forum had this problem but I couldnt find the thread even after searching for over an hour.... find me the thread and i'll give you some lovin ) spanks for your time __________________

11-14-2006, 10:25 AM	#2
pwhitersxs Zilvia Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: pittsburgh Posts: 167 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Sounds like the car went into a curb. The camber must be real positive for it to stick out like that. This is just a guess though. I would say that something is bent. Make sure everything is secure with your suspension. __________________ s13 sr20det

11-14-2006, 05:18 PM	#4
drew935 Zilvia Addict Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Silver Creek - San Jose Posts: 996 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	get a wheel alignment or if you got one already, check out the reading for SAI (steering axis inclination). This spec is used to determine if you have any bent suspension arms. They should both read the same. If not then replace the one that is out of spec. There isn't any room for this to be out of spec. So it is either in spec or not. __________________ I'm driving fast -drew

11-14-2006, 05:34 PM	#5
Wykydtron Zilvia Addict Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Skykomish, WA Posts: 909 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I have the same issue on my rear alignment. Later I found out the previous owner curbed it <=[ so its like... Hella flush on one side and kinda not really with a small spacer on the other >=P Another reason why I am scouring the globe for a coupe! __________________ @schassis.eddi

11-15-2006, 10:24 PM	#8
Dousan_PG Post Whore! Join Date: May 2002 Location: Orange County, California Age: 46 Posts: 16,640 Trader Rating: (23) Rides Gallery: Dousan_PG Feedback Score: 23 reviews	3/4 of the s chassis i kno whave this problem even no accident ones it just happens. deal with it small spacer on one side. done. __________________ Aaron Pink GodziRa www.geocities.com/pink_godzira

11-14-2006, 10:36 AM	#3
thejapino Zilvia Addict Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: The City By The Water - YEEE! Posts: 605 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	mine was doing the same thing, found out the front lca was bent. replaced it, took it to get it aligned, MUCH BETTER!!!

11-15-2006, 03:52 PM	#7
R34SKYLINE Leaky Injector Join Date: May 2006 Location: Socal Posts: 139 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Maybe a previous owner or someone replaced a front LCA with a S14 one instead of S13...assuming you drive a S13.

11-15-2006, 10:36 PM	#9
thejapino Zilvia Addict Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: The City By The Water - YEEE! Posts: 605 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	isn't there something like a weld-on adjustable lower control arm kit for the front of our cars? get that heard of one anyway and i hope that helps

11-16-2006, 12:27 AM	#10
!Zar! Post Whore! Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: North Korea Posts: 14,579 Trader Rating: (27) Feedback Score: 27 reviews	If you want adjustable lca's check splparts. Aaron is right. I've seen many s13's with that problem. It's just as random as the whole, "One side is lower" problem. Take it to another alignment shop. Because I have friends who had no problem aligning their car with the same predicament you are in. __________________

11-16-2006, 12:57 AM	#11
R34SKYLINE Leaky Injector Join Date: May 2006 Location: Socal Posts: 139 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Obviously things dont just grow so its probably the front suspension member that shifted any and all of its slop to one side same coudl happen for teh rear sub-frame I'd check tah out if I wear you before trying to fix the problem with adjustable suspension components...