97 240SX alignment problems

[CRyan]

Hi NOM - Basically, here's my dilemma

My car decided to meet a concrete ditch at aprox. 12 mph and bent the front strut and blew all 4 tires. I've since replaced all the struts and shocks, springs, and wheels/tires. All tires are balanced and at the correct pressure. Also, the rack and pinion was replaced. It was used with (from what I see) blown outer tie rod ends.

I work at Nissan also, but I'm an entry level tech. I've put my vehicle on the alignment machine twice now, first time aligning (or so I thought) the front and rear. The rear is immaculate. The front, not so much. I can get it correct, jar the front end, it be ok, but driving it it tends to strattle the grooves through out the road (moving back and forth)

The outer edge of the tires is wearing down within the course of a month, to one 4" thread showing. I'm almost ready to give up on the car, but figured I'd come here for some advice before I do so. Both tires seem to wear on the outer edge - the passenger side more so than the driver side.

Could the tie rod ends being blown along with bushings be the cause of the horrible steering problem?

Also, when I began to adjust toe on our machine, both toe and camber were in the red (on a WinAlign program)--- after adjusting the toe some both began to adjust and fall into the green area, and then measuring center.

Thanks for the help guys - I'm really coming down on nails right now, and I'm just hoping the frame hasn't been tweaked....I think that would hurt more than me selling the car...

[driftingmy240sx]

sounds more like you have a caster or camber issue, what condition are your tension rods in?

[NM50]

Does the toe stay in spec after a sweep?How about the ball joints and control arm bushings?Wheel bearings?And bad rod ends will make it dart.

[jaxiss]

Since you have the winalign program i'll assume it does about like the rack i use. It would help all of us to help you if you could post all the specs from the " print summary" feature after initial rolling compensation and caster sweep. camber/caster/sai ect.. Also when your car is lifted is there any play in your wheels when rocked side to side or up and down? Any play in ball joints? Do the control arms look at all bent? A bend can be subtle and make a large difference, ( when i tapped the curb i had to replace that control arm.)

[CRyan]

I'll get a print out saturday to show you all - my driver side lower control arm was replaced after meeting the curb and then the ditch, I'm not sure if the passenger side as bent either - I'll also make sure to get some pictures once I get the car in the air. Could the frame be potentially bent with the symptoms?

But like stated before, I'll get the print outs and everything and load them up on here when I get a chance after I leave work Saturday. Thanks for the advice guys - any and every other comment anyone has or has come across with an S14 chassis - please chime in!