Hey everyone,
I hit a patch of ice on saturday and slid into a curb. At first I didnt think the dammage was too bad, but after putting a new tire on it I realized that the wheel is sitting about 2 inches further back than it was before. I got under the car to see what was broken. I noticed that the spindle was bent, but it looks like the K-Member may be bent too. Is it possible that it just slid back? Can it be adjusted/replaced without removing the motor/trans?

This sucks,
Mark B

 

looks like your door - fender alignment is slightly off. Could just use some shims to fix that though I guess.

You should just take everything from that wheel apart, lay it all down and see what is crunched. go down to the crossmember (leave crossmember on lol). Should figure out as you're taking parts off what is bent/broke... it'll be the easiest, or hardest (more likely) part to take off, and wont look quite right lol.

I wouldnt be driving that around until you get it fixed though. You could have like a busted ball joint or something, and if that comes unconnected while you're driving down the freeway that would be disasterous/life threatening.

 

I did the same sorta thing with my jetta. The problem was I bent the hell outta the lower control arm. Replaced that and all was well.

 

I did something similar, hit a median avoiding somebody in an SUV not looking. I had to replace the k-member, spindle, control arm and the upper strut mount. I bent the tabs on the k-member enough to where the cross camber/caster was way off. The bolt holes have some movement for the k-member but not enough to make the wheel move fore or aft. I'm thinking you'll have to do the same thing I did. Also check the attaching points k-member to front subframe and see if there is any noticable wrinkles in the subframe. Good luck!!!

 

ahhh, i just did a k member on a dodge van, not fun let me tell you that

 

I wacked a curb at 30 MPH sideways with my 84 T/A and did hardly any damage. When I got out of the car to look I would have been sick if I saw that!

To me it looks like either the A-arm or the tab on the K-member for the A-arm rear bushing is bent.

 

get a used right side suspension, change everything, that is after you make sure the k member is not bent.