wrecked my runner :( is there a caster adjustment cam bolt??

[xspsi6]

I was a victim of a 4 car pile up and my stupid clean 1 owner t4r took a big hit but I am 100% going to rebuild it to better than new and although the frame is not bent my caster is out on the drivers side which is where the most of the impact took place so in looking at the shock tower I can find no bends of any type But I just know the wheel is off and the caster is back toward the rear of the fender well so I need a way to adjust it back in to spec if there is a solution?

 

[kindred4x]

damn..sorry about your 4runner. The lower control arm bolts are used to adjust camber and caster. Be careful though the bolts are known to seize in the bushing.

 

[RockenAlex]

Sorry about the runner man, just a tip, keep the hood scoop bits!

 

[xspsi6]

I will keep the hood bits for sure as I already have a new hood on the way as well as a new fender and I am going to the yard today to try and find all the air bag stuff and a god core support.

 

[IBallEngineer]

although the frame is not bent my caster is out on the drivers side which is where the most of the impact took place so in looking at the shock tower I can find no bends of any type But I just know the wheel is off and the caster is back toward the rear of the fender well so I need a way to adjust it back in to spec if there is a solution?

I'm curious about a few things. I was in the Autobody business for over 30 yrs, so I know a little bit.

How do you know the frame is not bent?

How did you measure Caster?

Why are you saying "you know the wheel is off"?

:couch2:

 

[xspsi6]

I'm curious about a few things. I was in the Autobody business for over 30 yrs, so I know a little bit.

How do you know the frame is not bent?

How did you measure Caster?

Why are you saying "you know the wheel is off"?

:couch2:

The impact took place above the frame horns so I am am making an educated guess that it's not bent but I am going to throw it on the shark in a couple of days to be sure but the left front wheel took a big hit so it threw the caster out as it is clear to see now I just have to find out exactly how and why it's off.

 

[IBallEngineer]

The impact took place above the frame horns so I am am making an educated guess that it's not bent but I am going to throw it on the shark in a couple of days to be sure but the left front wheel took a big hit so it threw the caster out as it is clear to see now I just have to find out exactly how and why it's off.

How can you "see" the caster is out?

I should tell you my current occupation is selling alignment equipment and training on how to use them. I can't see caster, this is why I'm asking you. Maybe you mean Camber? Maybe you mean toe?

By the way, I sell the Shark too!

:snacker:

 

[JRZEE2000TR4LTD]

Something HAS to be bent. Those cams just don't move on impact.

 

[D Farms]

If for some reason they were loose they might move. The caster is noticible if you are looking at how far the wheel is from the back of the wheel well, the caster on 4runners is adjusted by sort of angling the lca foreward or backwards.

 

[JRZEE2000TR4LTD]

If the cams moved, you'd probably really see bad camber and even toe as those cams affect all three angles drastically. Look at the distance between the wheel and the back of the wheel well and compare to the other side. Use fingers or get a measuring tape. Also, look at the cams themselves as they should be "mirror" images of one another more or less comparing one side to another.

 

[xspsi6]

If the cams moved, you'd probably really see bad camber and even toe as those cams affect all three angles drastically. Look at the distance between the wheel and the back of the wheel well and compare to the other side. Use fingers or get a measuring tape. Also, look at the cams themselves as they should be "mirror" images of one another more or less comparing one side to another.

I can see the -camber and -caster on the left front wheel position and I did get the tape measure out and its off by a good bit and I spent a good amount of time with the truck on the lift today with a few other of the techs in the shop and they could not see any visual signs of any of the frame area being bent and we even took measurements in areas that could have been bent so I am going to the alignment shop tomorrow to get their opinion on this.

I took collision repair technology in college so I know my way around a proper repair but the suspension needs to be in spec first before I go any further.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

When My wife got T-Boned in our 96 the left front tire took a big hit....I folded the upper control arm and rotated the entire shock tower to the firewall.

I can't even get the Upper control arm off there is that much tension on the upper bolt....

Good luck

 

[Kenworth]

Which air bag do u need and color? Have some here from part outs?

 

[ppnkxsaultss]

The lower control arm bolts are used to adjust camber and caster.

 

[IBallEngineer]

I can see the -camber and -caster on the left front wheel position and I did get the tape measure out and its off by a good bit and I spent a good amount of time with the truck on the lift today with a few other of the techs in the shop and they could not see any visual signs of any of the frame area being bent and we even took measurements in areas that could have been bent so I am going to the alignment shop tomorrow to get their opinion on this.

I took collision repair technology in college so I know my way around a proper repair but the suspension needs to be in spec first before I go any further.

I don't mean to bust your chops, or maybe I do. But you CANT see caster, you can see setback, but unless you take the wheel off and tie a string from the upper ball joint to the lower ball joint in a perfectly straight line you CANT see caster.

If you had 10 degrees of positive caster you could see evidence of it when you turn the wheels, as on MBZ and BMW. Maybe if you had 10 degrees of NEGATIVE caster you could see the evidence for that too in the turn, but I've never seen a car with 10 degrees of negative caster.

The suspension is not required to "be in spec" before a body repair, but the frame needs to be square to do a good repair. Not a bad thing to take it to an alignment tech first, in fact, I think it's a great idea for you.

:cheer2:

 

[xspsi6]

Which air bag do u need and color? Have some here from part outs?

Drivers side black and passenger grey, It's an 01 if it matters but I know 99-02 is the interchange for the drivers side but I think but am not sure all 3rd gen passenger are the same just the cover is different?.

 

[xspsi6]

I don't mean to bust your chops, or maybe I do. But you CANT see caster, you can see setback, but unless you take the wheel off and tie a string from the upper ball joint to the lower ball joint in a perfectly straight line you CANT see caster.

If you had 10 degrees of positive caster you could see evidence of it when you turn the wheels, as on MBZ and BMW. Maybe if you had 10 degrees of NEGATIVE caster you could see the evidence for that too in the turn, but I've never seen a car with 10 degrees of negative caster.

The suspension is not required to "be in spec" before a body repair, but the frame needs to be square to do a good repair. Not a bad thing to take it to an alignment tech first, in fact, I think it's a great idea for you.

:cheer2:

I totally see what you are saying I was just trying to word it in a way where everyone understood what I was trying to say.

But I am off to the alignment shop right now and will report back if results are not what I am trying to hear it will go on the shark this weekend.

 

[Kenworth]

I have pass side bag out of 98 tan in color 20 bucks plus ship if interested
Text me 7172781702 pa we tested it? Worked great!! Lol it's in good shape

 

[AZ4Running]

I would bet there is a bent frame or bent suspension components. Worked at a body shop, went to school for auto body and paint and have been a repair tech for 6 years and rarly do see that damage and not bent frame or other parts. Fixable or not can nevr tell from just a pic but it looks bad but it may not be as bad as it looks.

 

[A.Wilson013]

I don't have any sweet qualifications, but I can tell you this...
[MENTION=78895]DeathCougar[/MENTION] most likely has some airbag stuff he'd be willing to sell you.

Also.

Good luck getting everything fixed back up... Hopefully it goes as well as you want it to.