UCA hits top of sidewall after wreck, frame damage?

[boondocksDrew]

I was in wreck a while back where the front driver side corner and especially that wheel took the brunt of the impact. I had it towed home, and in assessing the damage discovered that a wheel could not be mounted due to negative camber, and the top of the control arm being low enough that the inside sidewall of the tire bumps into it. I didn't think the impact had been hard enough to cause frame damage so figured I'd replace stuff that was worn out or suspect and see where it got me. I also have a replacement steering rack I haven't gotten to, as the wheel got hit hard enough that it ripped a tie rod end out.

Having replaced the UCA, cv axle, hub/bearing assembly, and sway bar link, stuff still isn't lining up. There needs to be more space between the UCA and the hub. Anyone have any suggestions before I throw in the towel?

 

[Mike07SE]

Just curious as to why you didn't just have it towed to a shop and have the insurance cover the repair costs? Body shop would have the necessary equipment to measure if the frame is damaged (like a Celette bench). It may be too late to put in a claim.

That said, the shock tower might be bent and you may just not see it. That would be a big culprit of your negative camber. The steering knuckle may also be bent as well causing issues. This is also known to bend/fail during hard wheeling thus the gusset kits some install. I'd look into that as well.

 

[boondocksDrew]

There was another wreck in front of me (rainy day) causing everyone to hit their brakes. I wasn't going to get a claim approved since I hit someone from behind, and I generally don't keep collision on a vehicle this old. So I'm not out any insurance money. Worst comes to worst I'll just put the steering rack in and leave it disconnected, then have it towed to a professional to be sorted out. It just didn't look that bad at the time so I thought I might be able to handle it.

 

[RonJR]

Sounds to me like the steering spindle (the part that sits vertically between the two ball joints and holds the brake rotor and wheel) is bent. That part is what really controls the distance between the UCA and the tire. If only the UCA or frame was bent, your camber would be all out of whack but the wheel to UCA distance wouldn't change.

If the top of the wheel got smacked hard from the outside, I could see the upper part of the spindle bending to give you the results you're seeing. Since that's an odd-shaped part, it's going to be hard to put a straightedge anywhere on it to determine its health, but it should be a mirror image of the one on the passenger side. Try putting a straightedge on the brake rotor or wheel flange extending vertically up, and measure horizontally from there to the UBJ attach point. Compare that measurement to the same thing on the passenger side.

 

[CruzadoBlanco]

as already said you steering spindle is probably bent. i would have a local shop take a look at it and confirm that is the problem. if it is i should have a spare spindle laying around the shop id be willing to let go.

 

[boondocksDrew]

Thanks for the advice, folks. I'll try measuring that steering spindle distance today and comparing to the passenger side.

 

[Oz-Arkian]

There was another wreck in front of me (rainy day) causing everyone to hit their brakes. I wasn't going to get a claim approved since I hit someone from behind, and I generally don't keep collision on a vehicle this old. So I'm not out any insurance money. Worst comes to worst I'll just put the steering rack in and leave it disconnected, then have it towed to a professional to be sorted out. It just didn't look that bad at the time so I thought I might be able to handle it.

Hoping your problem is just a bent part, but I don't blame you on insurance. We did have collision on our '04 SR5, and after my son's accident hitting similar to yours on front corner of the frame and tire, we have fought tooth and nail to get a decent value out of the insurance company. I was finally able to get them to value it at $7700 once they determined it to be totaled.

Anyway, adjuster said it had frame damage and suspension damage. I drove it to a body shop, after I couldn't find said damage. they checked the frame and suspension, did an alignment for me, and quoted me $2700 to repair the body damage. They showed me where the inner fender crumpled, as it should, pushing back onto the suspension and looking like frame damage. I kept the 4Runner with Salvage title for $1650, and will repair and make it new again.

 

[boondocksDrew]

I got a new fender installed myself, it was a fairly cheap part and just bolted on. I have a bumper cover that I'm waiting to put on until after I get the rest of it sorted out.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Probably the Spindle, Similar thing when I hit a log off-roading.

That's with the wheel straight ahead by the way. If you look at the design of the spindle they can bow if impacted hard enough.

 

[BADCUDA1]

A good frame shop can check it and tell you what needs to be straightened and how much.

 

[boondocksDrew]

Finally got around to comparing the passenger and driver side spindles by measuring the distance between various points on them. The driver side (wrecked) spindle had distances as different as much 1.5" shorter than the passenger side, so probably safe to say that's my problem. I ordered an oem used one off a non-wrecked parts vehicle.

Thanks for all the advice, everybody. Now I just have to install that spindle, the rebuilt power steering rack, and the bumper cover. And then get an alignment. The power steering rack looks like it won't be fun.

 

[Prime4R]

Some accident as OP - I wanted to piggy back and ask for advice.

Accident happened on the FD side of the vehicle.

My shop has done a lot of leg work with body and my aftermarket suspension, but my car is not 100%. When I drive it on the freeway (70-80 MPs) over knuckles or bumps, there’s a considerable sway from side to side / slight jump to the right / and more of a bounce on the FD compared to the FP side.

I’m running out of things to point out that could be the cause. My shop has replaced - strut, bearing, the whole wheel assembly, inner/outer joins, UCA, ball joints, and sway bar.

Recently I noticed where the UCA mounts on the strut towers has missing paint. Would I have a bent strut tower that would be causing this?

TIA!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[inscarguy]

Get alignment specs. That will tell you if something is wrong. Missing paint like that is a clear sign something is wrong. Unless they boogered it when they replaced the control arm.

 

[aemravan]

+1 on alignment... what are your specs? Are they able to align it within spec?

Also.. what are the odds of having similar color, different generations of 4runners run into each other...? Thats crazy.


Lastly, aside from replacing what was thought to be damaged, have you changed/upgraded anything? Was your spindle replaced? I don't see that as one of the parts.. surely that thing got bent out of wack during that impact.

Only thing I can think of is if the upper pick-up point for the UCA did get pushed in a bit it could potentially give you varying caster angle throughout the suspension travel and COULD possibly still align OK while sitting still.

 

[EdmundGTP]

Don't discount the possibility that your lower control arm may be F'd up as well.. I'd replace every suspension component that supports that tire if it were my rig.

Possibility of frame damage where the LCA mounts is probably minimal given the severity of the impact, and, if it exists, likely not so much that it can't be overcome by the cam/alignment bolts. Upper Control Arm mounts on the frame could have some minor tweak to them, but you wouldn't know without comparing them to a known-good frame somehow.