hit a curb.. worst damage?

[94cc0rd]

hey guys, i feel like an idiot but i can't change what i did... anyways, i was getting on the freeway and apparently i was going too fast and i started sliding... couldn't countersteer correctly and hit a curb.

now my left rear wheel is like \ instead of |, yes.. it's pointed outward... with major neg. camber...
and my steering wheel is slightly turned left to go straight...

today is sunday so i'm not sure of any shops open but i'm just wondering, what's the worst case scenario in this situation? i'm thinking rear upper control arms, tie arms?, coilover,... etc. The car drives fine for now... it leans a little to the right when going straight but it was like that before this happened too... I'll try to get pics up tonight.

just a little details, it's a 98 240, lowered on megan racing street coilovers, stock s14 se wheels, and hit the curb goin about ~30 mph? I'm not too sure as I was pretty paniced...

and please, if your just gonna flame me, please refrain from posting. i got enough of it from my friends today. i know i made a mistake and it was my dumbass' fault.. but i'm looking for help, not to get flamed.. thanks..

[Ian]

definately bent suspension


no worse no better

if there's no body damage then chances are you didn't actually hurt the frame.

If you were going as slow as you claim, you probably bent the lower control arm, upper control arm and the rear (traction?) arm. Or any combination of the 3. You'll need to replace those, perhaps your wheel also. Then you'll need an alignment.


Which wheels exactly hit the curb?

[Avante]

The same thing happened to me about two months ago, lost traction and hit a curb.

How did you hit the wheel? in order to get negative camber, you must have hit it..near the top? when i hit i ended up with positive camber, due to a bent lower control arm.

i would say, definately check your RUCA, and take a look at your sway bar, and subframe (just incase). hitting at 30 will definately bend your arms, subframe damage, maybe.

I hope all works out.

[ThatGuy]

Best bet is to pull off the wheel that hit, and replace everything that is bent. Hardest thing to fix will be the bruised ego. Other then that, just replace the arms and get an alignment.

[RiversideS13]

I had similar situation with my S14 before...i spin out and hit a curb.

I replaced all the suspension arm and the camber still wierd, it turns out that my subframe was bend. my konig wheel also cracked.... later I picked up a good rear subframe for $150 from a junkyard. the shop who swap my subframed also told me that actually my rear axle broken into 2 piece too.

[Phlip]

Happened to me a LONG time ago, showing off for some chicks, hit a curb and bent a wheel and some suspension shit... Have fun!

[randyjordan]

control arm

[OdessaS13]

if it makes u feel any better i was making a uturn in a unlit park at 1am and hit a ~6 inch curb going like 10mph. dun know how the fuxc i dnt see it:( felt pretty damn retarded after that

[dct223]

yeappp i hit a curb as well... start looking for LCA's

I need to swap subframes this winter break as well =/

[FaLKoN240]

That is POSITIVE camber. Not negative. I've never hit a rear wheel. But your assumptions sound kind of right.

Definately suspension stuff.

[sideview_180sx]

next time don't speed past your ability or for the conditions.

[projectRDM]

I've got several of each piece you're going to need, PM me.

[94cc0rd]

wow.. thanks for the responses... I didn't really get a chance to take a good look at the back but i think i saw a small crack in one of the parts in the rear left...

lemme try to describe better what happened... I was taking a freeway on-ramp.. and it kinda goes like a U shape.. so basically a big U turn.. but I'm not familiar with this on-ramp as I usually take a different one... and I didn't know/expect the turn to be so sharp... Yes, I was going too fast for the turn but i was definately not trying to drift.

So anyways, I was going and I start to slide between 1/2 and 3/4 through the turn... so with my inexperience and lack of feel for my car, I countersteered .. too much... and started sliding the other way, then by the time i tried to counter steer the other way, i was facing the right way but theres a curb spliting the on-ramp lane and the rest of the freeway lanes and I hit it... then I ended up facing the Right side of the freeway...

Oddly, the wheel is not damaged AT ALL... and it IS NEGATIVE camber... not weird at all... :-/

anyways, give me like 10 minutes to upload some pictures I took... It was dark so the flash might make it kinda hard to see but anyways, I'll upload them right now...

oh, and if anyone could give me a picture of the rear suspension area that points out which bar/arm is which?

[94cc0rd]

http://photobucket.com/albums/c80/94cc0rd/

password: zilvia

and just for kicks, heres a picture of my brand new (used) Friends front bumper... bought from Jspec, found out it was nitekids old bumper.. (flame suit on)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v420/sennett0r/IMG_2327.jpg

[RiversideS13]

here is my 240sx pictures (http://www.pbase.com/taiwanese_dude/240sx_crash). you can make comarison. the accident happend 2 years ago. I hit the curb after i got the car for 3 days. i did not know how to drive a rwd car (i think i still do know how ha ha)

[dct223]

here is my 240sx pictures (http://www.pbase.com/taiwanese_dude/240sx_crash). you can make comarison. the accident happend 2 years ago. I hit the curb after i got the car for 3 days. i did not know how to drive a rwd car (i think i still do know how ha ha)

did u end up changing your subframe? how is the car now after u fixed it?

[94cc0rd]

well, heres another gallery with all the pictures i took tonight... not all of them are good pictures but theres more than the previous album.

http://www.pbase.com/sennett0r/rear_left_wheel&page=1

let me know what you guys think..

[waynehead05]

that happened to me this past monday the 5th. in the rear i needed to replace the lower arm, rotor, and the spindle. i have yet to do the front. steering wheel is to the left also.

GAY

[dct223]

im suprised u have negative camber... usually if u curb surf u get positive camber...

[Irukandji]

thats strange, from the looks of you pictures, theres no evident damage to the suspension arms. You may want to put your car on a lift and inspect the rear subframe.

Just be prepared to tackle the problem, and don't drive if you don't have to until it's fixed.

[94cc0rd]

im suprised u have negative camber... usually if u curb surf u get positive camber...

Tell me about it... I'm so freakin confused... :confused:

thats strange, from the looks of you pictures, theres no evident damage to the suspension arms. You may want to put your car on a lift and inspect the rear subframe.

Just be prepared to tackle the problem, and don't drive if you don't have to until it's fixed.

Unfortunately, I had to drive around quite a bit today... more than normal... about 75 miles...
It drives ok... but I'm just scared it's gonna die on me or the wheels gonna go flying off on the freeway.. I made sure I drove slower than normal.. which is at the speed limit, lol.

Also, anyone in Riverside know of any good shops that could possibly help me find out what's bent/cracked/broken? Alignment shop? Body shop? any Car shop?

[RiversideS13]

i replaced the subframe and all the supension links including knuckle. the subframe was like 150 dollars, the knucles with spindle + links was about $250 or $300. since i have to drop the subframe, i replace most of bushings and installed a vlsd. in the process of hunting parts, i also found a SE rear swaybar for $35 from junkyard and 2 KYB rear shocks for $50.

all i replace those, the car runs wonderfully just like new.

good luck with your repair.

[ranisron]

how hard was doing the replacement yourself? or did you take it to a shop (I could imagine the bill is expensive doing that route)?

[RiversideS13]

it supposely not hard to install those arms and knuckles. It made my proces diffcult becasue my subframe was bent and those links cannot line up correctly with those bolt holes on the subframe. I later found a shop in palmdale helped me installed the subframe for $150 (which requires same procedure too, remove all the links and reinstall it).

There is a frame shop i think called "dick's frame repair" on the main street in riverside. it is like a 30 years old frame repair shop.

[Avante]

it looks like your RUCA is bent just a little (i might be wrong about that)

that explains the negative camber..

but, how did you get negative camber from hitting the curb?

[SoSideways]

The arms and such are not hard to replace if the subframe is out of the car.

We swapped arms between Enjuku Eric's old busted subframe to the new subframe, but with bent arms, in less than $30, and we did it without air tools.

The actual process of dropping the old subframe and putting the new subframe back onto the car took about 15 minutes, with a regular aluminum floor jack made for lowered cars (read: not slammed, just lowered).

Good to have a couple of friends and yourself do the work though, so you can have a person on each side of the car, and one person keeping an eye on the jack and the two guys on each side of the car.

[IAM_SO_sLOw]

wow your lucky no cars hit you when you spun out...

btw do you live off of second in arcadia?

[94cc0rd]

well, i didn't really spin out, just slide, counter steer, counter steer, then curb... but if i did spin out, and that curb wasn't there, i would have slid right into traffic and probably be dead...

i live off baldwin...

so any other ideas? does the rest of the arms/rods/suspension bits look ok besides the RUCA?

[dct223]

i would replace all those arms, its a good excuse to go aftermarket

[94cc0rd]

ehh i would go aftermarket everything but I'm short on cash :(
i just bought the friends bumper and paid for a bunch of other misc. crap...

i was planning on getting battle version RUCA in the future but i guess if the stock ruca is bent/cracked, i'll be getting those next... i was actually planning on getting wheels before the bumper but it was a used bumper painted black so i couldn't let that go... but yeah... is that all that you guys can see from the pics?

should get back to studying.. grr finals :(

[SoSideways]

ehh i would go aftermarket everything but I'm short on cash :(
i just bought the friends bumper and paid for a bunch of other misc. crap...

i was planning on getting battle version RUCA in the future but i guess if the stock ruca is bent/cracked, i'll be getting those next... i was actually planning on getting wheels before the bumper but it was a used bumper painted black so i couldn't let that go... but yeah... is that all that you guys can see from the pics?

should get back to studying.. grr finals :(

Perhaps you should just hunt down some stock S14 arms and what not from a junkyard and replace your current ones. If the wheel is still messed up looking, then it's probably the subframe. If the wheel looks decently straight, then take it for an alignment jobby and you're good to go till you got more cash flow for the aftermarket arms.

[94cc0rd]

well.. if i need RUCA only, then i can afford new battle version RUCA... but if it's more than that,.. i'll probably look for stock ones from a junkyard like you said...

[S14DB]

I hit a pedestian peninusla around a corner at about 20mph. So nice when the curb comes out into the breakdown lane.

I moved the subframe 1" over to the drivers side.
Bent all 4 arms; RUCA, Toe, A arm, Traction.
Took a big chip out of the rim.
Bent the shaft of the strut.

and I drove home!

[sw20>>s14]

when i clipped:

i broke my rim (almost split all the way down the middle), mangled my LCA, bent toe link, and bent traction...which gave me +1000000 degrees camber...funny that you ended up with neg camber...and from a quick glance, it doesnt look like your arms took any damage...well, something had to have taken the force, so...

[kaotic]

its a only a matter of time when you step up to a curb.. be honest... were you trying to slide the on ramp?? haha, well.. I was slidin around this industrial area and I understeerd right into a curb in top of second.. killed my RS-8.. and my rear shock/spring.. bent the shit out of my subframe.. taco'd my RLCA, and bent the Toe, Traction arms.. and the spindle acutally broke off the RLCA.. totally upgraded everything..
RS-8s are tuff rims.. didnt even crack.. but since it was crushed back to the second lvl of the lip, no shop in town wanted to touch it...
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y268/kaotictim/IMG_2290.jpg

[dct223]

s14db, did you fix your car?? if you did how is it now??

[94cc0rd]

i'm gonna take it to an alignment shop soon... i'll let you guys know whats up.

[S14DB]

s14db, did you fix your car?? if you did how is it now??That was like 3yrs ago.

[dct223]

well.. i dont know you, i dont remember seeing any threads you posted of your accident, and im not sure if you have the same car from 3 years ago... so i was just wondering (my damage to yours was pretty similar), if you have the same car, and if swapping the subframe and arms returnd your car back to normal.

[sncs14]

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: nitekidz bumper jinxed you. J/K

last year going about 55mph i hit three mailboxes each on 4x4 posts and slid through a deep ass ditch . split my bumper, broke all the lights on the front passenger side, mail bokes dented up the hood, broke the windshield wiper, bent front pass. side wheel, broke lower ball joint and tc rod bushing on same side, dented fender and quarter panel on same side, blew rear strut. no frame or subframe damage. the only bent rear susoension arm was from the tow truck driver that wrapped the chain around the left rear lower control arm(damn redneck). i hate ditches and curbs, although now i know when and where to take i easy. live and learn. hope yours isn't as bad as mine was.

[94cc0rd]

well, i drove around for about 2 hours looking for alignment shops or any car shops and couldn't get it checked out because my front bumper is too low. No shop would want to take the risk of getting it up on their lift... but the last shop i went to, the guy got on his back with a flashlight and started looking around.. he said the lower control arm was bent, tracking arm bent, and maybe the knuckle, or some other stuff. he said that he wouldn't be able to know about the knuckle until he got the other stuff off...

how much do you think these parts go for? does anyone have any of this stuff they can give me for cheap/free?

[sncs14]

check performance nissan's wholesale catalog. i think they are about $40 each or so for the OEM arms

[SoSideways]

well, i drove around for about 2 hours looking for alignment shops or any car shops and couldn't get it checked out because my front bumper is too low. No shop would want to take the risk of getting it up on their lift... but the last shop i went to, the guy got on his back with a flashlight and started looking around.. he said the lower control arm was bent, tracking arm bent, and maybe the knuckle, or some other stuff. he said that he wouldn't be able to know about the knuckle until he got the other stuff off...

how much do you think these parts go for? does anyone have any of this stuff they can give me for cheap/free?


Dude just take the bumper off and go there. If you HAVE to have a bumper to driver around, then just ziptie it on, and cut the zipties to take it off when you get there, and when you're done, just ziptie it back on and go.

As for prices, they should be dirt cheap from a junkyard. Like, $30 should be plenty to get you all new arms.

The spindle might cost a bit more though, but that shouldn't bend, but just crack... [shrug] no clue...

[sw20>>s14]

spindles/knuckles shouldnt bend because there isnt much play in the parts...no part is long or protrudes enough for any significant leverage so usually other parts take the force (i.e. in your case, all you mentioned)...most likely ripped bushings...

i was gonna offer you a pass rear spindle...what am i thinking? nvm, NEED SLEEP!

[94cc0rd]

well, i don't have ANY tools here at my apartment... so taking my bumper off is impossible..

[SoSideways]

well, i don't have ANY tools here at my apartment... so taking my bumper off is impossible..

You don't have any friends or know anyone that has tools that you can use?

All of my tools were stolen from my car few weeks ago, and I had to resort to borrowing tools from friends and such, and even went to the junkyard with them.

[dct223]

its obvious your arms are bent, that is why all of us who responded to this thread said to change your arms... i suggest changing all of them (RUCA, LCA, traction arm), take off bumper, get an alignment, and go on with your life..


parts are cheap, PM R240NA he has a bunch im sure, of check our your local junk yard...

[94cc0rd]

is the actual labor easy or should i have a pro do it, and then get an alignment?

the guy also said something about the knuckle...

also, none of my friends here have tools... some friends back home have tools but I have finals until friday..

[dct223]

labor is easy, just need the tools, and good breaker bars, ur knuckle should be fine. If you decide to change the knuckle, you will need a 36mm socket for the axel nut.

[94cc0rd]

dammit, anyone in socal that wants to take a look and see for themselves? any suspension whores here??? 626 area ??

[driftsilvias13]

i think there isnt any positive camber and the wheel is sticking out that direction because he probably hit the curb towards the back of the wheel/car which pushed the front of the left rear wheel outwards. anyway ill see your ass at church this week. hopefully u get it fixed by then

[driftsilvias13]

i think there isnt any positive camber and the wheel is sticking out that direction because he probably hit the curb towards the back of the wheel/car which pushed the front of the left rear wheel outwards. anyway ill see your ass at church this week. hopefully u get it fixed by then

[qwk]

nastiness deleted, user banned.

[SirWarrior]

Man, Go to sears or something get a simple mechanic's set for a 100 bux, it will pay for itself when you swap the parts on yourself.
I just took off most of my s14 suspension yesterday and I'm in cold ass chicago, but yesterday was a warm 21F, so it can be done.

[NoGreatSin]

Man that sucks. If I were you I'd really try to hard to find a buddy with some tools and space and do it yourself. The work is pretty easy and the parts are available like everyone else is telling you. Otherwise you're going to have to shell out $$$ for a mechanic to do the fun part for you :(

[94cc0rd]

well, i finally took it to a shop that put it up on a lift and took the wheel off and looked at it... they said i need a new knuckle and bearing... i got quoted 280 for the knuckle, 150 for the bearing.. and 170 for labor, for a total of $600. does that sound reasonable?

of course i'm gonna take it to some other shops and shop around for the best price, but the guy at the shop told me that i shouldn't go with used parts...(those prices are for new parts) because if i use a used bearing then it could possibly make noise or something... what do you guys think?

and the guy explained what was involved with the labor and that they would have to take off the rotor, caliper, basically everything... and it looks like a pain in the @$$ so i'll probably just let a shop do the work...

[twisted_240]

i jumped a curb and hit a tree
my right tie rod was a L shape
bent my lower control arm
took a chunk out my wheel
the tree pushed my frame back 4 inches
not uch else for damage there haahhaha
drove it home all hobling like hahah

[S14DB]

well, i finally took it to a shop that put it up on a lift and took the wheel off and looked at it... they said i need a new knuckle and bearing... i got quoted 280 for the knuckle, 150 for the bearing.. and 170 for labor, for a total of $600. does that sound reasonable?

of course i'm gonna take it to some other shops and shop around for the best price, but the guy at the shop told me that i shouldn't go with used parts...(those prices are for new parts) because if i use a used bearing then it could possibly make noise or something... what do you guys think?

and the guy explained what was involved with the labor and that they would have to take off the rotor, caliper, basically everything... and it looks like a pain in the @$$ so i'll probably just let a shop do the work...
Bering is only like $50 from Nissan, Maybe he is replacing the hub also. Labor seems like a good deal.

[RiversideS13]

you have 5 lug, it will be very hard for you to find a used one. even if you find out, there is possiblity that is was damange too (happened to me). however, i found in a junkyard for the complete left side knuckle with all the arms and link for $150. if you have air tools, i dont think the labor is going to take more than 2 hours, unless your subframe is bented.

does the price including alighment?

[94cc0rd]

no the price was without alignment... so how much would a knuckle be from the dealer?

[S14DB]

$219.53 for the Knuckle, $88.21 for the Bearing, Dealer retail. He should get it for much cheaper with a service account.

[brown eyes]

$600.. DUDe~!

No way can it cost that much. $150 for a bearing? Dude.. rear suspension is the easiest shit you can work on. Go to a junkyard or browse the "for sale" section of this forum. Do it yourself man. Just take out all the parts that look messed up and replace it. Then take your car down to an alignment shop. I bet you can do it all for less than half that quoted price.

One of the first things to bend are the control arms when you hit a curb. Better check those first.

Use these pictures to guide yourself:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/br0wn_eyes/rear1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/br0wn_eyes/rear2.jpg

[sw20>>s14]

and the guy explained what was involved with the labor and that they would have to take off the rotor, caliper, basically everything... and it looks like a pain in the @$$ so i'll probably just let a shop do the work...
i know that when the mech was explaining it, it sounded like a PITA...but thats part of his job, to explain to common folk just how hard the job he's about to do is and discourage the customer from even attempting...you played right into the dark side, but dont worry young padawan, all the stuff you mentioned is really easy...you could definitely do it yourself with basic handtools...

i had to replace all the arms and hub of my pass rear after i bapped...this was outside my GF's house with a sears tool box, a maglite, no breaker bar and pressure trying to avoid a ticket and tow by leaving my "peice of junk" on the streets as her rich neighbors put it...yours should be a lot easier too because at least your parts werent any where near as mangled as mine...shcools over, give it a try...

[SoSideways]

i know that when the mech was explaining it, it sounded like a PITA...but thats part of his job, to explain to common folk just how hard the job he's about to do is and discourage the customer from even attempting...you played right into the dark side, but dont worry young padawan, all the stuff you mentioned is really easy...you could definitely do it yourself with basic handtools...

i had to replace all the arms and hub of my pass rear after i bapped...this was outside my GF's house with a sears tool box, a maglite, no breaker bar and pressure trying to avoid a ticket and tow by leaving my "peice of junk" on the streets as her rich neighbors put it...yours should be a lot easier too because at least your parts werent any where near as mangled as mine...shcools over, give it a try...

WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?????

No breaker bar? How'd you do it? Are you a linebacker? haha

[94cc0rd]

lol, what's a breaker bar?

well, i don't have $600 so i'll be asking my sisters boyfriend to help me out. he replaced the hub on my sisters previous car and i'm pretty sure he could help me out, just gotta find the time... for him. also, i was advised by two shop mechanics that used parts wouldn't be a good idea.. but what do you guys think? used parts ok?

i think the reason why one mechanic said that was cuz he thought it just broke on me out of nowhere... i didn't really tell him i hit a curb cuz he's my dads friend.. lol but i will definately consider used parts...

S14DB: where did you get those prices? do you work at a dealership? the guy quoted me $280 for the knuckle and $150 for the bearing...

And do you guys find it odd that i didn't bend/break a single arm/rod and just damaged the knuckle? or is this common? cuz most of the guys who responded right away suggested that the control arms were bent. I think only a couple guys mentioned the knuckle..

anyways, i just wanna thank you guys for the help.

[vtotech]

i have rebuilt the front suspension on my friends '89 4 times now, every time he hit a curb his car had to be towed on a flat bed and we had the same tow truck driver all 4 times. have fun.

[RPS13_SR20DET]

I think you should use new bearings for the repair as for the knuckle i think used would be fine. Performance nissan in Duarte sell rear bearings for $84.99
http://performancenissanparts.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=1234_146_646_731&products_id=1097
just take it to the machine shop and have the hub pull out and press it back into the new bearing.. good luck

[sw20>>s14]

WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?????

No breaker bar? How'd you do it? Are you a linebacker? haha
a tiny 3/8th rachet and a mallet...one thing i learned was that i have excellent hand eye cordination lol...

[SoSideways]

a tiny 3/8th rachet and a mallet...one thing i learned was that i have excellent hand eye cordination lol...

LOL! You got lucky then!

And at least your 3/8" ratchet didn't break.

My friend and I went to put his MR coilovers on his WRX, and we broke a 3/8" ratchet, a few 3/'8" drive extensions, and I believe a few sockets as well.

We ended up getting those "bolt extractors", aka turbo sockets from Sears, that has a hex end so you can put a socket over it and use a 1/2" drive breaker bar or ratchet on it.

We put the turbo socket on, put a socket over that, hooked it up to a 1/2" drive ratchet, and put a long ass pipe on it (the pipe that you can detach from one of those aluminum jacks), and it took my 190 lb friend of putting all of his weight on the bar to finally break them bitches loose. I was holding the ratchet on there so that it was square with the rest of the assembly, so that we wouldn't just sit there and round out nuts/bolts.