What did I bend?

[Demonic]

Aaaarrgh! I hurt my 69 Charger. I clipped a curb a couple weeks ago coming back from the local Sat night cruise. Cars blocking the right lane, I favored the center too much - the median had a “bump out” curb. Took out the left front tire w only 800 miles on it. Dent in the outer edge of the rim, but the bead area is ok. The bad part is when I took it to my alignment guy. The center link is pitched down, low on the driver side. The lower control arm doesn’t appear bent. Can’t figure out how a hit on the rim edge would move the pitman arm down? Anyone have experience with something like this? I’m going to check the steering box mounts. They look ok assembled.

 

[walter funkhouser]

check lower control arm pivot,had that happen on a dodge demon

 

[ddpsnake]

caster nooooooooooooooooo

 

[R413]

What did you bend? Your wallet!

sorry to hear, not a good time finding and fixing these damages.

 

[OKDart]

One thing to check, the frame likes to rust around the K frame mounts/upper control arm on the drivers side. Happened to mine, K frame was pushed up into the frame 1/4" where the steering gearbox is.

 

[1 Wild R/T]

check lower control arm pivot,had that happen on a dodge demon

Yup, the cast steel portion that the ball joint taper fits into.... Never bent one myself but seen lots of those bent on project cars.....

 

[Demonic]

Yep, lower control arm was bent, pushed back and clocked about 15* out of square. A BIG thank you to Kern Dog for squaring me away with the LCA. But...

There's a second issue. the center link is no longer parallel with the oil pan. It's either the Pitman arm of the K frame, as I swapped in a spare steering box, same issue. So it wasn't the box - I didn't think it was.

Thoughts? The k frame looks undamaged, all the box bracket welds are intact.

 

[Rusty 72]

Darn that's too bad. If the LCA is bent is the pivot shaft area all messed up?

 

[Demonic]

If the LCA is bent is the pivot shaft area all messed up?

Fortunately, that is fine. All of my front end is new, so no metal-to-metal contact from a worn lower bushing. Actually, I did some more measuring yesterday. It might be ok.

 

[Ernie ingling]

Find an ICAR Certified shop have car checked on frame alignment.