Someone help point me in the right direction

[CStat4runner]

So I've never really posted on here before because I've never had any issues that haven't already been addressed on a thread. Until now.
So short time line is probably necessary to know the background.

-About 3 months ago I had the OME 3" suspension kit installed, everything aligned, drove like a champ.

-About a month later my alignment had gotten a bit off, they said this was normal and to bring it by so they can torque everything down and get it re aligned.

-So this brings us to last week, I'm driving and my steering basically fails (almost no control). I get it towed to a shop that has a good reputation in town (college station) and they tell me that the bearings/lower control arm failed, and I needed to replace that and the lower ball joint.

- When i go to pick it up a few days later he tells me that when they tried to get it aligned again that my frame is bent and my caster is off by 2 degrees and its still drivable it'll just pull.

- Right now in order to go straight I have to hold my steering wheel at a 30 degree angle, its pulling fairly hard to the left. My once enjoyable ride now sucks.

I'm not sure if the lift is involved but I feel like it could be an important factor. If someone could please explain to me what the heck is happening and what I can do to get this fixed that would be appreciated.

 

[JayRolla]

So I've never really posted on here before because I've never had any issues that haven't already been addressed on a thread. Until now.
So short time line is probably necessary to know the background.

-About 3 months ago I had the OME 3" suspension kit installed, everything aligned, drove like a champ.

-About a month later my alignment had gotten a bit off, they said this was normal and to bring it by so they can torque everything down and get it re aligned.

-So this brings us to last week, I'm driving and my steering basically fails (almost no control). I get it towed to a shop that has a good reputation in town (college station) and they tell me that the bearings/lower control arm failed, and I needed to replace that and the lower ball joint.

- When i go to pick it up a few days later he tells me that when they tried to get it aligned again that my frame is bent and my caster is off by 2 degrees and its still drivable it'll just pull.

- Right now in order to go straight I have to hold my steering wheel at a 30 degree angle, its pulling fairly hard to the left. My once enjoyable ride now sucks.

I'm not sure if the lift is involved but I feel like it could be an important factor. If someone could please explain to me what the heck is happening and what I can do to get this fixed that would be appreciated.

There are not bearings in lower control arm. There are bearings in the wheel hub? You have the control arm, bushings and a ball joint. If the ball joint fails then pretty much your tire falls off and it wont steer. If your tie rod end comes apart then you can lose steering. I dont see how it drove right, then lose steering and now frame is bent. Even if the tire fell off I dont see it bending the frame. I would bring it to another alignment shop for another set of eyes.

 

[CStat4runner]

*Bushings that's what I meant to type.
And that's what I didn't understand either, is how NOW it's bent even though I'd had it aligned less than 2 months ago.
So best plan of action is to take it to another shop?
There should be no reason that the lift caused this issue either correct?

 

[IBallEngineer]

*Bushings that's what I meant to type.
And that's what I didn't understand either, is how NOW it's bent even though I'd had it aligned less than 2 months ago.
So best plan of action is to take it to another shop?
There should be no reason that the lift caused this issue either correct?

The lift itself is not to blame. The monkeys who installed it might have not tightened the ball joint nut, or it was just time. They do fail. Secondly the alignment shop that said your frame is bent is most likely wrong.

Caster has nothing to do with you holding the steering wheel at 30 degrees. I have been in the auto body and frame business for over 30 years, and I sell alignment machines as well as train the operators for a living. I hate when an alignment shop talks out of their A$$. Take it somewhere else!

olice:

 

[CStat4runner]

Thanks yall, Hopefully the other shop says better things

 

[AZ4Running]

Yeah take it to another shop and get another opinion. Even if your lbj separtated and your wheel went rolling done the road you woukd not bend the frame. I bought a 96 tacoma that this happened to while going 60mph and all was fine when the broken parts were replaced. Maybe something got bent or they installed the lca and did not do the camber and caster right. Do a quick check and set the steering wheel center and see if you have a tire not pointed straight and tilted in or out.

 

[CStat4runner]

Alright so I took it to another shop. They got it "aligned" to were its not pulling, and they said nothing about any frame damage. But, my steering wheel still isn't straight when my vehicle is going straight! And to top it off, I'm hearing a scratching noise coming from the front drivers side when I'm going down the road. Ive tried looking but I'm not seeing anything. What should I be looking for?