Front End Suspension Nightmare

[70grande]

So I recently went over a ditch that I thought was way shallower than it was, and smashed the bushings on the drivers side strut rod. The problem is, the part of the frame that goes in the middle of the rods is bent down and over the bushings. Its screwed up my allignment and the tire people say they can't re-allign it untill I get it fixed. What exactly can I do to fix this, and take it to a shop is the VERY last option.

 

[pyroman]

Do you have metal working skills? From what I'm understanding you're going to have to bend where the strut rod is attached to the frame...either that or cut the piece off and weld in a new one. Those are the two options that spring to mind, I've never had that problem. If you do try to bend it back you're going to need heat but it will take alot and could change the properties of the steel to where it is much weaker than it originally was, unless you do heat treating to it. I don't know the feasibility of cutting it off and welding in either an entire new piece or cutting off the bent part and fab up a new mounting point for the strut rod and welding it in. I hope my post wasn't too muddled up, but do you have these kind of skills? If not you need to make friends with a welder. Hopefully there are some more guys on here with some different solutions for you. Goodluck!

EDIT: A picture of the damage would help too.

 

[BarnStang]

First, update your profile with your location so someone near you can offer to help-need to know where you are. If you are uncomfortable with that, no problem, you can limit the entry to the state you are in.
Next, we REALLY need to see some good pictures of the damage to determine if you can straighten it, or if you need to cut it out and replace it.
I just went through this problem on my 66 project. I whaled on it with a big hammer and a port-a-power. But I only needed to move the mount surface less than an inch. I took a bunch of measurements, pressed it out past what I needed, and it came back to where it should be. Alignment guy was happy. (I was ecstatic..to say the least). So, it may not be as bad as you describe, cause my alignment guy made it sound like the end of the world...
Try to get some pictures posted up. It will be easir with a photo hosting service like photobucket or some other hosting service. We can help with that too.
Oh, if it's a 70, you have more options cause it's moderatly adjustable. You can get away with replacig the mount, and the alignment guy can compensate for any "minor" placement errors of the new mount by adjusting the strut rod.

 

[yeloxr7]

The strut mounts on my 69 Cougar were bent when I got the car. Every time I got the car aligned for a few years I was told about it, but they were able to adjust around the problem. Finally I had Marlon at Marlo's in Chatsworth fix it. He heated, bent and re-welded the brackets so they are like new. At the same time he installed new bushings and cleaned and painted the struts. The cost was fairly reasonable.

Check it out: Marlo's Frame & Alignment

 

[70grande]

Hey everyone. Wow! Thanks for all the input.

Bushings pictures by tperr24 - Photobucket
Here are some pictures if you want to take a look, hopefully this is something I can do.

 

[ForceFed70]

Your going to need to get someone with some metalworking skills (and tools) to help you with that one.

 

[Rusty67]

Two questions for you:
How much are you willing to spend to fix it ?
Do you care about original parts or are you open to an upgrade ?

 

[mrmustangman357]

looks like someone put a jack under the strut rod mount

 

[pyroman]

I'm suprised you didn't damage or break your strut rod too. I've broken 3 in my car.

 

[Decurion]

Its possible the situation is worse than the pictures show, but from the looks of it I would get an acetalyne torch with a rosebud tip to get the whole are hot and just take a few whacks at it with a good hammer until its back into shape. Obviously youll need to remove the strut rod first. Make sure to check carefully for any stress cracks in the metal. Even the "good" bushing is toast (no damage, just worn out) so you may want to check the whole front end for any more worn out parts.

 

[BarnStang]

Looks exactly like what I fixed on mine. Very fixable. heat it up, straighten it out, new bushings. And your'es is adjustable so will be a breeze to align.

 

[70grande]

Im trying to keep it low budget, but I could care less about stock parts

 

[bnickel]

Im trying to keep it low budget, but I could care less about stock parts

you should check out Disc Brake, Steering and Suspension Products for classic Chevy and Ford cars and trucks and look at the mustang mini-subframe kits. you can get a complete lower A-arm changeover kit for only a few hundred bucks that does away with the strut rods and the strut rods brackets that you bent, plus you won't have near the alignment problems with this kit

 

[Rusty67]

Thats where I was going with it but I was going to wait and see what kind of budget he was shooting for.

 

[yeloxr7]

Hey everyone. Wow! Thanks for all the input.

Bushings pictures by tperr24 - Photobucket
Here are some pictures if you want to take a look, hopefully this is something I can do.

Mine were worse than that. Marlon can fix that, for a reasonable price. Plus, he's not too far away from you.