sooooo I did this yesterday

[str33tprintz]

So yeah I had to find out the hard way that rwd cars and bald tires and bad driving dont mix. Anywayz I was thinking that the damage doesn't look too bad. Looks like just the control arm and maybe the hub cuz the wheel was giving me a rough time coming off. I am pretty handy with the tools I have and was thinking of fixing it myself. Though I dont have a garage. How hard do you guys think it would be. And what issues might I run into.

thanks in advance

[DrJuice164]

I would start buy getting the wheel off and doing some damage assesment. Your LCA is shot for sure, can't really get a look the other arms, but I would deffenetly have a good look over those. After the arms, check out the subframe and knuckle see if that looks damaged. Also, check to see if the sway bar was bent as well since your LCA got F'd up.

If the wheel hasn't been off in a while, there could be some galvanic corrosion holding it on, just try and knock it off with the bottom of your shoe (not the best way, but it works).

Try and get some more pictures when the wheel is off.

Keep us updated.

Bryan

[str33tprintz]

I managed to get the rim off today. Obviously I broke some of the lugs doing it but that is the least of my concerns. I wasn't sure what angles I should be taking pics so I just put everything up. I am pretty sure the control arm is shot I can see that at least. But nothing else seams to be damaged not even the suspension which is what my friends have all been worried about.

Though the rear sway bar is bent i'm not sure if its supposed to be that way or not. cant really tell until its on jack stands probably. But my big question now is I've been told over and over again not too do this myself. Because i don't have air tools and a lot more may be damaged than it seems.

I donno let me know what you guys think. Obviously it would be more cost effective to do it myself. But I don't wanna start something I cant finish.

Any help is REAAAAAALLY appreciated.

[Gabes13]

I didn't think that was even possible. Nice color though.

[str33tprintz]

I didn't think that was even possible. Nice color though.

Not quite sure what you mean... but if its any consolation while it was happening I didn't think it was possible either . But all jokes aside thanks for the complement. The paint is less than 3 weeks old haven't gotten to even wax it or whore it properly . But no body damage at all so I should be grateful.

[DrJuice164]

To rule out the sway bar being bent, check out the pass side and see if it looks the same. Your camber arm seems to be sitting at an odd angle, not sure if it's a bent upright or becuase your LCA is bent or maybe that arm was bent too. It's tough to say if it's if it's worth doing on your own. Not saying your not capiable of doing it, but it might be worth having a shop check out the subframe/upright to see it is at all broken.

As for replacing links/arms, I did in my driveway in a day with just simple hand tools and some bp blaster, so it's not really a very difficult moddification.

Let us know what you decide to do.

[str33tprintz]

Thanks for all your help DrJuice. I will try too rule out the sway bar this afternoon it would be sooooo much easier if I had a lift but I dont.

Im going to pic up the parts I need from a 240sx junk yard Friday and I guess thursday im going to see if I can pull the control arm. If not I will just bring the parts to a local shop and have them installed there.

Shouldn't cost too much to install a control arm. Though Im sure there gonna want to test and check everything. I know after all of this im going to need a hell of an alignment. But I just want it running again.

By the way DrJuice what is a BP blaster and is there something I can purchase to make removing these 19 year old bolts easier. I.e. some kind of lube

[DrJuice164]

PB blaster is penetrating lube. I would go out tonight and start soaking them tonight and maybe twice a day until its time to replace them. Makes life a hell of a alot easyer.

Let me know if you need any more info.

[Papi Chulo]

PB is wonderful.

I let a 60 something year old throttle cable nut sit in a bottle cap of it for a few days, and it unscrewed like it was brand new.

[str33tprintz]

where can I get this stuff... local auto store or more like a hardware store. I searched online and couldn't find any info on it?
Modified by str33tprintz at 4:17 PM 4/15/2009

[Papi Chulo]

local auto store

a hardware store.

Yes.

google pb blaster. You didn't look very hard

[94_240sx]

Sorry for your accident. Walmart sells PB Blaster.

Check this out. I posted control arms and traction rods in classified section yesterday. They are out of s13, but s14 uses same parts. Let me know if you are interested.

zer...-rods

[disrupt]

I would fully remove the knuckle and remove the hub/bearing to ensure the hub is not bent and that the bearing is not damaged. Also I would replace the wheel studs, and the bolts that connect the hub/bearing to the knuckle. Replace any bolts that hold any arms (such as your rlca) that are damaged as well. Obviously replace bent suspension arms.

[str33tprintz]

I would fully remove the knuckle and remove the hub/bearing to ensure the hub is not bent and that the bearing is not damaged. Also I would replace the wheel studs, and the bolts that connect the hub/bearing to the knuckle. Replace any bolts that hold any arms (such as your rlca) that are damaged as well. Obviously replace bent suspension arms.

Thank you that is a really good idea though I just need to get it running for right now but definitely over the next month or so I will eventually replace all of the suspension parts that could have possibly been damaged in any way.

Trust me I know this is not an area of the car that you can cut corners on. I just gotta get it of of jack stands and stuff before the HOA complains.

[str33tprintz]

Hey everyone I just wanted to come back and thank every person that helped me during this thread. I really would not have even attempted this fix by myself if not for the people on this thread and a few others.

Thanks

And also I posted a formal introduction and pics of my car fixed here zerothread?id=418818