Suspension bent? Which piece?

[FrugalRacer]

Hi -

Quite a while ago, I went around a corner on the street and clipped the curb with my right rear wheel. Pretty hard. Some time after that ( I don't remember how long ), the right rear strut failed. I got a new set put on, and a couple of months later, the right rear failed again. After replacing that, the guy at the shop said he could barely get the right rear into alignment, just within factory specs. Since I'm wanting to lower the car now, I thought it would be a good idea to make sure the right rear corner is proper.

The only thing I could see with my eye that looks odd is where the bottom of the strut attaches to the knuckle(?). The lower mount for the strut appears to be twisted clockwise looking from the top down. I have attached a couple of photos with links to bigger ones.

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Big photo #1

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Big photo #2


Anyway, does anyone have an idea of what might be bent? Like I said, just going back and forth between the driver and passenger sides, the strut mount on the knuckle was the only thing that looked off. As far as driving the car, the rear end definitely gets squirrelly going over bumps.

Thanks

 

[jtmcinder]

I was hit in the right rear wheel by a New Beetle (aka "evil bubble car" by my daughter). It also took out the shock and bent the knuckle. It will be a total PITA, but if it is bent, then it needs to be replaced. I was surprised that it bent, given that the shock rotates freely on it's main axis, but it did. Also check the trailing arm.

Most of all: don't do anything until you have done some very careful measuring. No-one on the internet can diagnose this. You have to figure what is bent and what isn't.

- Jtoby

 

[FrugalRacer]

Do I need to measure the parts on the driver's side and compare those to the ones on the passenger side?

Also, how involved is replacing the knuckle? Is the pain in transferring the hub from one to the other?

Or, should I just take it to a shop?


Thanks

 

[jtmcinder]

Maybe Kansas uses less salt than Pennsylvania, but I could not get the hub off the knuckle and it took three hours to get the axle out of the hub. One of the worst jobs I've done.

Yes, you can compare left to right in the rear to see what is bent. Also a pain, but doesn't involve bloody knuckles and half as many apologies to the wife for swearing in front of the kids.

- Jtoby

 

[Rx3]

If you live in a state where they use road salt, that thing is probably rust welded in, and you will have to get a new assembly. I've found that while replacing all my bushings with polyurethane, and the amount of suspension pieces that had to be replaced or cut to remove is amazing. If I were in your shoes, I would contact mitsubishi graveyard and see if you can get that particular assembly shipped to you for cheap. The metal insert is part of the knuckle. I'm not sure how easy it will be to separate it from the knuckle assembly. A new knuckle is ~$180 from the dealership.


If you can remove that bolt (that holds in the bottom of the strut, *maybe* you can grind or tap out the metal insert and have one fabricated. I'd have to look at mine tonight (I have it dissassembled) to be sure it is even feasible. But I would say the easiest headache free thing to do would be to get a new/used assembly in good condition and replace the whole thing.

As for getting the hub off of the axle, pray it is not rustwelded together. If it is, you will be replacing both parts, they are a bi*** to get off if they are rustwelded.

 

[FORMONTOYA]

i also am surprised you were able to bend the shock support without breaking one of the 'tits' off the forward or trailing arm witch is what happened to me shortly after i bought my car new. had the car about 3 weeks pushing the limits of the car on a lonely road and found them rather dramatically (damned curbs). broke the rear trailing arm "tit" of that knuckle/upright on the drivers side. man was my wife pissed, had not even made the first payment on the car and had to spend about $600 to fix it (2 extremely flat spotted tires, knuckle, and alignment). as stated, it was a major pita, and that was on a 3 week old car. pb blaster and a box of bandaids will be your best friend. and as stated, send the wife and kids off somewhere because you will definatly be cussin'.


jim