Alignment off suddenly? Front left wheel slightly right
- Thread starter 4runner15
- Start date
nevada
Senior Member
Dude, you're a detective. I think someone hit my wheel like you said!
After i got home, i walked by the car and thought, if someone hit my wheel, there is possibility of a mark of some sort. And what do you know.. some marks!
Good thing there was some dried mud on my tires. I noticed first that there was some dried mud missing. After closely looking, you can see scuffs in that area. Look at the bottom right.
A closer look, the rim was hit too.
Hah! what would the impact cause to move the wheel slightly right? Bent tie rod?
I would just take it back to wherever you had the alignment done, and explain to them what happened. let them check it.
sometimes it can be very difficult to locate the bent component. but even IF something got bent, if its not structural, its possible they can just align it again, and you'll be good to go.
gamefreakgc
Elite Member
If it's bent, yeah that'll be hard to check. The parts most likely to bend would be the inner or outer tie rods. These are replaced in pairs though so you'd have to do the right side too.
It maybe have damaged the ball joints themselves. You can test this by jacking up the left side (or maybe the shop can check for you) and if you can wiggle the whole tire at the top and bottom, it's the lower ball joint. If left to right, it's the tie rods. Hope that helps narrow the issue.
It maybe have damaged the ball joints themselves. You can test this by jacking up the left side (or maybe the shop can check for you) and if you can wiggle the whole tire at the top and bottom, it's the lower ball joint. If left to right, it's the tie rods. Hope that helps narrow the issue.
nevada
Senior Member
it really depends on how it was hit, but its been my experience that the knuckle itself is more likely to bend.
the TRE's typically have the force applied directly INLINE, where they are strongest, and designed to be used. while I have seen some bent, I believe it was due to a careless tow truck driver hooking a chain to it.
the knuckle however is long and skinny, and unsupported for much of its length.
checking for a bent TRE is easy. just loosen the jam nut, and turn it. mark it first so you can return it to where it was. if its bent, you will see it when it turns. there will be a wobble. no wobble, its not bent. the knuckle is much harder to check.
but, if you are careful with a tape measure, you may be able to do it. find something that is the same, and equal on both side to measure against. we often use tire tread blocks.
4runner15
New member
What's the acronym for TRE? Tie rod ends? Sorry, end of day and exhausted, can't seem to think.
I'll jack up the car tomorrow and start looking. Will take a jab at it and if I can't seem to find anything on my own, I'll bring it to the alignment shop to get their take. Thanks for the advice
nevada
Senior Member
yep, tie rod ends.
4runner15
New member
figured it out
I think it was the LBJ. Reason I say that is because i replaced the tie rod and put it back to its same thread (counted it before I took the original off) and the alignment was still off in the same direction. So I decided to give it a quick eyeball alignment for the meantime and straightened that wheel back out. Then the next day, i replaced the LBJ and after putting it back together, the wheel was off alignment but this time turning left. So I had to adjust my tie rod again back to its original place and it was straight.
Got an alignment from the shop though just to make it square.
I think it was the LBJ. Reason I say that is because i replaced the tie rod and put it back to its same thread (counted it before I took the original off) and the alignment was still off in the same direction. So I decided to give it a quick eyeball alignment for the meantime and straightened that wheel back out. Then the next day, i replaced the LBJ and after putting it back together, the wheel was off alignment but this time turning left. So I had to adjust my tie rod again back to its original place and it was straight.
Got an alignment from the shop though just to make it square.
