I ran into a guard rail and....
 

:aw:Well I dont know anything about cars, but I want to learn... I ran into a guard rail going about 15mph maybe and bent the "A arm" broke the tie rod end, and cracked the tension rod... I think I have the part names right. I dont even have my own set of tools, but I know someone I can borrow from. The Chilton manual dosent seem very thorough so I thought I would get some other opinions on how to go about fixing this. I'm a poor student so cheaper is better.:aw:

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x...Picture023.jpg

replacing the parts are the only way and safest way...look around on here or any forum on the for sale threads to see if anyone selling wat you need for a reasonable price...you gotta pay to play man... i did the same thing

Do you think there may have been more damage? and is there any usefull tips when it comes to fixing these kinds of parts? also, is it possible that the sway bar is bent?

nah sway bar is fine just lca, tension rod, outter tie rod. useful tips dont crash

It looks like you'll need both an inner tie rod and an outer tie rod. Your LCA obviously needs to be replaced. Also your pictures don't show the tension rod bracket, there's a chance you damaged that as well. After you replace the tie rods you'll need to get an alignment done.

You can probably find everything you need in a local junkyard. Or with some luck, put an ad in the WTB/classifieds section here and someone will have them laying around. Otherwise you can buy new stuff online. Make sure the replacement LCA you get has a good ball joint, the rubber should not be broken and should not be leaking grease.

If you weren't broke, this would be a great time to upgrade your front suspension; S14 LCA, z32 inners, outers, tension rod, power brace, poly bushings.

Oh btw you should download the FSM for the 89-94 240sx. Better diagrams and a lot more information than chiltons. Search around on here and you'll find links to it. GL, you get to learn how to fix your 240sx now.

no tips needed really.

popping out the outer tie rod and the lca ball joint will be the hardest. loosen it up by hitting around it with a metal hammer, then give it a good pop from the top and it should pop out.

there's also a clip on the inner tie rod. just pry the tabs back with a flat head screw driver. then the inner tie rod unscrews out of the rack.

besides that it just unbolting stuff.

it is possible you have more damage. you won't know till you fix everything and then take it to get an alignment. so yeah. fix everything and then take it to get an alignment. if they cant get it in spec then something is still messed up. then come back and ask. good luck.

You pretty much just got all the tips you can get.

I have a lower control arm/spindle set up for sale and stock tension rods. Let me know if you want them...

#/f/sale-items/20734...mud-flaps.html

Thats the thread.

yup, replace/upgrade(i suggest upgrade to fully adjustable) tie rods and ends, control arms, tc rods. have fun. and while ur doing that might as well upgrade other things if you can afford it.

thanks
 

thanks guys, that was some useful info now I just need to figure out where to find that more detailed manual. I will possibly do a follow up and let you know how my first car repair experience went!

ok so...
 

Like I said, I dont know what im doing. But my manual says when I do any suspensions work that I need to lower the car to the ground before tightenining anything... How is that supposed to work, wouldnt it be hard to get to any of the bolts? or maybe impossible?

Put the car on ramps front and back. Or use a pit or an alignment lift.

For the front suspension stuff you'll need to replace, you'll be fine if you tighten it with the car in the air.

Just tighten shit in the air. You're gonna need an alignment anyways... seeing as how you crashed.

There should be a few people parting out cars in the forsale section. Junkyards are a poor mans best friend. Removing and installing should be staright forward. You shouldn't even really need a manual. Just jack up the car, look at what is broken, follow it and look for the bolts that need to come off to remove the part. Tighten everything in the air, bring it to the shop and get an alignment.

A tie rod end puller will make it easier to remove your ball joint and tie rod. You don't have to use one since you are replacing those parts but normally you would use one so you don't mess up the threads with a hammer, they are nice to have either way.

1. Take your butt to the junkyard.

2. Find what you know you need, take it off the car, buy it.

3. Go home, take off broken parts from your car, and put parts from junkyard on.

4. Test drive.

5. If the car feels "decent" get an alignment.

6. If after the alignment the car feels funky, you fucked something up.

7. LOL

update
 

ok so, I got some of the parts in the mail today, but not all of them. I got the tension rod and LCA. I'm wondering what order I should put everything in if any. ALso I am worried about the nuts that go on the tension rod, the LCA was bent around the nuts so I dont think I can get them off, any ideas? My new parts didnt come with any nuts or bolts....

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x...Picture012.jpg

Wait till everything comes in, then change it all at once. Makes your life easier. Looking by the picture you also might need a new sway bar endlink. Use a prybar to bend back the metal so you can get to the bolts. If they are damaged or bent, order some new ones from nissan or go to your local hardware store with that new tension rod you have and find the correct size nuts.

Hit shit with a hammer.

It's an almost 20 year old car, your arms are already broke, hit them to get what you need.

uhhh
 

When I take all this stuff off, do I need to mess with the brakes? or are they suspended with the strut?

just leave the brakes alone it shouldnt be in the way... had to cut my lca up to get to the nuts when that happen to me

Brakes? They are connected to your knuckle/hub. You shouldn't even have to even touch your brakes for the itmes you are removing or replacing. SERIOUSLY, If you looked under the car and followed what is broken everything will become clear. Its not rocket science.

Sway Bar
 

ok so I disconnected the sway bar and the bolt was bent a little, also the rubber bits (bushings?) were a little fucked up, but you guys be the judge on whether or not its reusable.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x...Picture013.jpg

ok soooo
 

I have unbolted the tension rod and LCA but I cant seem to get the LCA ball joint disconnected from the hub... any ideas?

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x...Picture015.jpg

:newbie:

Hammer ...

yeaaaaaaah. unbolt the lower shock mount. will give you more room to bang on it.

also check your tension rod bracket in the front of the car, those can get banged up pretty good..

tension rod bracket
 

It looks ok to me, but heres a pick. You tell me, im the noobie.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x...oy/Picture.jpg:newbie:

So is this usable? I have no clue, the bolt is a little bent.

I don't know where you got that bolt to put in there, but mine has both sides threaded

Both sides are threaded so that you can torque both of the bushings in place. The way I saw it is that you only had it torqued on teh bottom

i agree to him....lol