So I bought my car from Dublin Toyota a few years ago knowing about the slight drag to the right. Thought it was just an alignment issue and brought it in for alignment. Apparently I was sleeping when the guy told me he can’t fix it because it’s a caster issue. Ignored it, then got another alignment check last year because I noticed my tires are wearing early and he told me the same thing, but this time I paid attention.
Now I’m in diagnose mode. I rotate my tires and my tires are pretty fucked and I checked out my front struts. I notice that there’s been some removal of dust on the right and the strut isn’t 100 percent cylindrical. There’s a small flat spot at the same height the wheel sits. I check the other strut and it’s there, too, but not as much and barely any dust removed. Brought it to a mechanic to check it out and they told me they see the caster is off and believe the subframe is out of alignment by a full degree. He can’t fix it, so I go to a body shop that can. They align what they can, but it’s still off. They discover that the right side had to of run something over badly because there’s no body damage or repair signs, just a bent control arm both front and back. They also believe the bushing could be replaced and that should help out with alignment, too. However, no one mentions any damage to the struts even when I asked them to inspect, so I’m assuming those are good. I can ignore those for right now as I would like to get the bent control arms fixed so I can stop wearing tires so quickly. I plan on lowering the car anyway, but that’s many moons from now. I’m also getting a clunk reminiscent of end links being blown. Could that be a factor for alignment?
My question to you all, if I am going to deal with this damage, what control arms do I need and what bushings should I get? I only do some canyon carving once in a blue moon and mostly DD a 95 mile commute. Just get new ones from Mazda? If so, what are they called? If there’s a cheaper one, who’s good to buy? The auto body shop recommended a new subframe as the bolt holes that held in the control arms may be bent as well and can’t be bent back into place, but did not confirm this. Do you guys second buying a different subframe? Is there a subframe in the back? Does the subframe use bushings and will those need to be replaced? My end goal with the suspension in terms of aftermarket are Swift springs and Bilstein B8 and maybe a RSB, but this is at least over a year from now, unless the struts really are bent as well.
Any help is much appreciated. Thank you
Now I’m in diagnose mode. I rotate my tires and my tires are pretty fucked and I checked out my front struts. I notice that there’s been some removal of dust on the right and the strut isn’t 100 percent cylindrical. There’s a small flat spot at the same height the wheel sits. I check the other strut and it’s there, too, but not as much and barely any dust removed. Brought it to a mechanic to check it out and they told me they see the caster is off and believe the subframe is out of alignment by a full degree. He can’t fix it, so I go to a body shop that can. They align what they can, but it’s still off. They discover that the right side had to of run something over badly because there’s no body damage or repair signs, just a bent control arm both front and back. They also believe the bushing could be replaced and that should help out with alignment, too. However, no one mentions any damage to the struts even when I asked them to inspect, so I’m assuming those are good. I can ignore those for right now as I would like to get the bent control arms fixed so I can stop wearing tires so quickly. I plan on lowering the car anyway, but that’s many moons from now. I’m also getting a clunk reminiscent of end links being blown. Could that be a factor for alignment?
My question to you all, if I am going to deal with this damage, what control arms do I need and what bushings should I get? I only do some canyon carving once in a blue moon and mostly DD a 95 mile commute. Just get new ones from Mazda? If so, what are they called? If there’s a cheaper one, who’s good to buy? The auto body shop recommended a new subframe as the bolt holes that held in the control arms may be bent as well and can’t be bent back into place, but did not confirm this. Do you guys second buying a different subframe? Is there a subframe in the back? Does the subframe use bushings and will those need to be replaced? My end goal with the suspension in terms of aftermarket are Swift springs and Bilstein B8 and maybe a RSB, but this is at least over a year from now, unless the struts really are bent as well.
Any help is much appreciated. Thank you
