eddiearniwhatever
New member
Hi, I've got a 1998 4Runner. I bought it four days ago for $4800. Three years ago it got into a collision for which the seller's insurance replaced the bumper and the left side panel.
I bought the vehicle because the "lemon buster" mechanic who looked at the vehicle at the time of sale did not indicate that the collision had done serious frame damage. he felt that only a little had been done, if any at all and didn't think this lowered the cost of the vehicle.
(Strangely, he didn't suggest bringing it into a shop before the purchase to see if it was compromised, something which with 20/20 hindsight I wish I'd done).
When I later went to an alignment shop I was told that the vehicle could not be fully aligned because the frame had been "diamonded" a little - Once aligned the "Total toe" was 1.21 degrees and the "steer ahead" .49 (I'm including these figures for people who understand what the hell they mean.)
Obviously the next step is to bring it to a body shop and see what can be done to align the frame.
My question: how much frame straightening is actually going to compromise the vehicle? I'm told a car will never be the same if the frame has been "diamonded", but some part of me wants to believe that it's possible to tweak it back into somewhat acceptable shape.
Any insight?
thanks!
I bought the vehicle because the "lemon buster" mechanic who looked at the vehicle at the time of sale did not indicate that the collision had done serious frame damage. he felt that only a little had been done, if any at all and didn't think this lowered the cost of the vehicle.
(Strangely, he didn't suggest bringing it into a shop before the purchase to see if it was compromised, something which with 20/20 hindsight I wish I'd done).
When I later went to an alignment shop I was told that the vehicle could not be fully aligned because the frame had been "diamonded" a little - Once aligned the "Total toe" was 1.21 degrees and the "steer ahead" .49 (I'm including these figures for people who understand what the hell they mean.)
Obviously the next step is to bring it to a body shop and see what can be done to align the frame.
My question: how much frame straightening is actually going to compromise the vehicle? I'm told a car will never be the same if the frame has been "diamonded", but some part of me wants to believe that it's possible to tweak it back into somewhat acceptable shape.
Any insight?
thanks!
