Is my frame bent or is it my alignment?

[silvia180SXboy]

After it rained this morning I decided to drive to school. As I stoped at a green light waiting to turn, another car was coming from the oncoming direction so I pressed the gas pretty hard to turn before it reached me. When I completed the turn I let the steering wheel slide through my hands to straighten the front wheels out but the car just spun out of control! My car spun around two times and I was able to stop before a third spinaround. After the first spin, the front left tire went over the median in the middle of the street. Now there's also a titty on my left front tire. I was wondering if I may have messed up the frame or is it just the alignment? When I'm driving and I let go of the steering wheel the car wanders a little to the right. I have to steer a little to the left to make the car go straight. Anybody know what parts I may have messed up?
Modified by silvia180SXboy at 10:01 AM 4/21/2005

[silvia180SXboy]

BTW, the car is a 95' 240SX

[1991S13]

I doubt a light hit like that would bend the frame. You probably messed up the alignment. What do you mean "titty on the left front wheel"? Maybe that has something to do with it, if it's bad enough.

[troll's 240sx]

Definetly your alignment. You might have some bent suspension as well, not to mention the wheel and tire too.

[Ubernoober]

Depends on if it is a "D" cup or not.

Head to the suspension shop, they can tell you better than we can what is wrong. We're just guessing here, while they can actually SEE what you did to yourself.

[silvia180SXboy]

By titty, I mean there is a little bump on the tire(not the wheel). Sorry if I wasn't clear. I don't think the wheels are bent because I jacked up the front and spinned the wheels and they seem pretty straight. Hubs are also okay, no wobbles. I just wanted to know what might've been injured so I can order the parts myself. Shops charge too much for labor. I guess it's time for some performance shocks/struts, tie rods, control arms, etc..

I didn't hit the curb at and angle, I ran over it at like 25-35mph.

[silvia180SXboy]

and start workin' overtime...

[ricebike]

Head to the suspension shop, they can tell you better than we can what is wrong. We're just guessing here, while they can actually SEE what you did to yourself.

i dunno about your area, but in mine's, u can go in for a free inspection. then take their quotes of replacing a bent tie rod/ lower control arm/ strut/ swaybar endlink/ etc. & drive away to replace the bent/broken pieces yourself (don't forget to thank them). you'll probably go back to get an alignment anyways.

swap the front tires to see if the car would still lean to one side. if u have a sidewall bulge, time to replace that tire.

[S13 Charlie]

Yeah, a boobie on the sidewall is not good. It basically means that you damaged the integrity of the sidewall and it's unsafe to drive on. You should probably replace that tire asap. It sounds to me that your alignment is out of spec. Large potholes can do this, so imagine what running over a curb could do. I went to a shop and got a full laser alignment for 70 bucks or so, I think it's well worth it, especially since it saves tires - if you're toe is out by even a degree or so, you're going to be buying new tires in 3000 miles or less...

good luck!

[SunshineAcid]

the firestones round here do a lifetime guarantee for like 120you can get it checked every week if you want.(not that i would, but hey, its nice to have the ability for no charge)id do that if i were you

[silvia180SXboy]

I'll probably get an alignment this weekend and probably a new tire. It just feels so weird driving the car now. It feels like every time I turn a 90+degree corner the car is about to spin out again. It must have traumatized me, I guess I should've got a FWD for a first car:P But I just could't pass up the deal on the 240 and I'm not goin' Honda. Hey, you learn from your mistakes.

[silvia180SXboy]

Is it just my car or does every S14 do this?...Whenever I'm taking a turn at around 25mph or so(long turn), I can feel the rear tires bounce a little like they're about to lose traction. It just scares me now. Do all 240s do this? I guess that's why they're so good for drifting(not that I drift, don't have the funds).

It also seems like traction while turning is worse when I'm turning to the left. When turning to the right, tractions okay.
Modified by silvia180SXboy at 7:50 PM 4/21/2005

[benemorius]

It also seems like traction while turning is worse when I'm turning to the left. When turning to the right, tractions okay.

Bad alignment can do that...

Also wheel bearings don't like it when your wheel hits something going sideways. I'm not saying it will go out in a couple months or anything, but it's life has definately been shortened.

[silvia180SXboy]

oh, the wheel didn't hit the curb while sideways, it ran over it but at a pretty decently fast speed. Hope that didn't mess up the wheel bearings. I thing driver side front camber may be a little off too. I'll take pics later in the day...

[benemorius]

Oh ok. I wouldn't worry about it so much one way or the other. Just replace it if it starts acting up. Mostly I just mentioned it FYI.

[Red coupe]

. It feels like every time I turn a 90+degree corner the car is about to spin out again. It must have traumatized me,

It could very well be...if your alignment is out now it is probably out because of bent suspention components , as other then the flex in the bushings the arms dont realy "give"if you can get underthe car and look you could possible see if anything is bent or tweaked...