suspension effed..few questions

99GSXAWDTURBO · 04-26-2006, 05:17 AM

i slid into a curb on the drivers side of my car, damaging the rear suspension. My rear left tire is cocked inwards slightly, if you were looking at it from the side of the car, the wheel would be slanted in pointing towards the front of the vehicle. i can tell the "front arm" or lower control arm is bent. But everything visually looks fine. I have to have my car fixed by this weekend to attend a DSM meet lol. But i was wondering if i should order any other parts just in case the LCA wasnt the only thing making my tire slant inward

TRBOBLU · 04-26-2006, 06:56 AM

I would take off the wheel and look at everything for damage. Order what you think you need and I would get an alignment to see if anything is still tweaked.

T_Eclipse · 05-14-2006, 08:35 AM

Same thing happened to me except I damaged my front. Took it to local shop and they said I need 2 lower control arms for the passenger side. They want 580 for parts and labor. The prices from one of the control arms is $232 and the other was $51. Why is there such of price difference between the two and where can I find lower control arms to buy myself?

jtmcinder · 05-14-2006, 09:03 AM

The front lower LCA is cheap partly because of the recall. The compression arm has always been ridiculously expensive for no good reason. Time for a trip to a junkyard.

- Jtoby

drag97GSX · 05-14-2006, 09:21 AM

Did the exact same thing to my driver's front. BALD tires and water on a sweeping left turn. Ended up pushing the entire wheel assembly towards the rear of the car about one inch. Not to hijack the thread, but if i had the parts could i do this work myself? Assuming i am not completely brainless when it comes to wrenching that is. Any special tools or anything i may need in advance?

jtmcinder · 05-14-2006, 11:00 AM

If you're really in Texas, then I'll guess it'll unbolt for replacing pretty easily. This same job is a nightmare on a salt-belt car. You'll still want airtools, PB'laster or Thrust, and patience.

- Jtoby

xveganxcowboyx · 05-14-2006, 11:14 AM

I had to have a rear upper control arm replaced recently (salt, salt and more salt). $100 labor, 45 for the part shipped over night. Not too bad.

To make sure everything else is ok, I would jack the car up as high as you can get it and measure between parts. Compare with the undamaged side. If any distances are off, you know the part you are measuring is bent.

99GSXAWDTURBO · 05-30-2006, 02:38 PM

update: i got off the bent arm. replaced it with a new one. Living in the "salt belt" > me. Upon closer inspection, i noticed i had damaged the wheel bearign as well, so it got replaced. On a sidenote, never order from mitsubishiparts.com, you pay for 2 day shipping, they send ground, then they dont send half the stuff you order, and they dont notify you when a part you order is discontinued, they just let you figure it out on the invoice you get 2 weeks later.