How to deal with s13 pulling right after repaired front end? - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

jakez · 09-25-2011, 10:38 AM

It appears my s13 has been in a wreck in the front-right side.

When I was changing my front sway bar I notice there is a large square steel bar welded in between the intercooler and radiator, and also the bolt hole for the front sway bar is not lined up at all.

Seems like they welded the crossmember(?) too short or something making the right side of the front end shorter and thus making the car pull to the right.

I have adjustable tension rods up front, I tightened the right one as much as possible trying to point the wheel left to counter the problem, and also adjust the left one to toe out a bit to also help. But the car still pulls right and that sounds like a shitty solution anyways.

Would replacing the flca's allow me to adjust them and fix this? Or is it just hopeless and the car is fucked up?

rcdad123 · 09-25-2011, 10:55 AM

take it to an alignment shop that has a laser alignment machine. any reputable shop should have one. have it aligned and if there is a problem, the tech should be able to tell you what you need. toe angle does not make a car pull to one side. camber and caster makes a car pull. zero your toe angle(both tires pointing straight ahead), then shorten the right tension rod. if the car still pulls to the right, lengthen the left tension rod. i did this to my s13 before i put on alignment machine.

PoorMans180SX · 09-25-2011, 11:05 AM

The car was never repaired correctly. They didn't measure something right (or not at all) when they pulled the frame, and welding some bar stock in there is a janky fix.

You need to take it to a shop with a frame rack and see if they can pull and repair it properly. Then things will line up.

jakez · 09-25-2011, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcdad123

take it to an alignment shop that has a laser alignment machine. any reputable shop should have one. have it aligned and if there is a problem, the tech should be able to tell you what you need. toe angle does not make a car pull to one side. camber and caster makes a car pull. zero your toe angle(both tires pointing straight ahead), then shorten the right tension rod. if the car still pulls to the right, lengthen the left tension rod. i did this to my s13 before i put on alignment machine.

Yeah that's exactly what I did lol. When I first measured the front toe it was basically like this \ |, and pulling right slightly, apparently after the repair that was their best solution to stop it pulling right so bad. After installing the tension rods and zeroing out the toe as best as possible the car then has a serious pull to the right so I went back and made the right rod as short as possible and lengthened the left one a bit too. Still pulls right though.

I guess I'll have to see if a shop can fix it the right way. Anyone have a ballpark on the cost on that? If it's over a grand I can probably just deal with it because the car minus the engine isn't even worth that much lol. My friend told me I should buy a shell and swap everything over but fuuuuuck all that.

rangerjavi · 09-25-2011, 01:16 PM

I have almost the same problem I need my frame pulled a little, now price differs from shop to shop me it would cost a couple hundred and some places require the motor be pulled out (mines a shell so not a problem.) Should be less than a grand.

artica · 01-05-2012, 06:37 PM

Would adjustable lower control arms be a decent fix to the problem?
that is, if it's an issue with the wheel being punched in a little.
im currently experiencing a similar problem.
i hit a huge pot hole going sidways and after adjusting toe, caster, and camber, mine still pulls left.

09-25-2011, 10:38 AM	#1
jakez Zilvia Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: United States Age: 36 Posts: 163 Trader Rating: (2) Feedback Score: 2 reviews	How to deal with s13 pulling right after repaired front end? It appears my s13 has been in a wreck in the front-right side. When I was changing my front sway bar I notice there is a large square steel bar welded in between the intercooler and radiator, and also the bolt hole for the front sway bar is not lined up at all. Seems like they welded the crossmember(?) too short or something making the right side of the front end shorter and thus making the car pull to the right. I have adjustable tension rods up front, I tightened the right one as much as possible trying to point the wheel left to counter the problem, and also adjust the left one to toe out a bit to also help. But the car still pulls right and that sounds like a shitty solution anyways. Would replacing the flca's allow me to adjust them and fix this? Or is it just hopeless and the car is fucked up? __________________ '93 240SX SE Coupe SR20DET Red Top / '06 300C SRT-8 / '03 E55 AMG

09-25-2011, 11:05 AM	#3
PoorMans180SX Zilvia.net Advertiser Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Michigan Age: 33 Posts: 5,431 Trader Rating: (16) Rides Gallery: PoorMans180SX Feedback Score: 16 reviews	The car was never repaired correctly. They didn't measure something right (or not at all) when they pulled the frame, and welding some bar stock in there is a janky fix. You need to take it to a shop with a frame rack and see if they can pull and repair it properly. Then things will line up. __________________ Build: http://zilvia.net/f/showthread.php?t=643065 Friends don't let friends buy knock-offs.

09-25-2011, 01:16 PM	#5
rangerjavi Zilvia Addict Join Date: May 2011 Location: Lake Wales Posts: 804 Trader Rating: (11) Feedback Score: 11 reviews	I have almost the same problem I need my frame pulled a little, now price differs from shop to shop me it would cost a couple hundred and some places require the motor be pulled out (mines a shell so not a problem.) Should be less than a grand. __________________ Being a Floridian is a birth right!

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

09-25-2011, 10:55 AM	#2
rcdad123 Zilvia Addict Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: san diego Posts: 639 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	take it to an alignment shop that has a laser alignment machine. any reputable shop should have one. have it aligned and if there is a problem, the tech should be able to tell you what you need. toe angle does not make a car pull to one side. camber and caster makes a car pull. zero your toe angle(both tires pointing straight ahead), then shorten the right tension rod. if the car still pulls to the right, lengthen the left tension rod. i did this to my s13 before i put on alignment machine.

01-05-2012, 06:37 PM	#6
artica Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Concord, NC Age: 38 Posts: 20 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Would adjustable lower control arms be a decent fix to the problem? that is, if it's an issue with the wheel being punched in a little. im currently experiencing a similar problem. i hit a huge pot hole going sidways and after adjusting toe, caster, and camber, mine still pulls left.