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Front End Suspension Nightmare

  • Thread starter Thread starter 70grande
  • Start date Start date Feb 9, 2009

70grande

Member
Feb 3, 2009
56
0
6
San Diego, CA, 92115
Feb 9, 2009
#1
  • Feb 9, 2009
  • #1
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.
 
P

pyroman

Founding Member
Jul 28, 2002
480
3
18
Ennis, Texas
Feb 9, 2009
#2
  • Feb 9, 2009
  • #2
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

Founding Member
Mar 2, 2001
1,260
3
39
Hagerstown, MD
Feb 9, 2009
#3
  • Feb 9, 2009
  • #3
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

Member
Apr 18, 2005
429
0
16
Feb 10, 2009
#4
  • Feb 10, 2009
  • #4
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

Member
Feb 3, 2009
56
0
6
San Diego, CA, 92115
Feb 10, 2009
#5
  • Feb 10, 2009
  • #5
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.
 
F

ForceFed70

That's why they call it "dope"
Founding Member
Dec 6, 1999
4,818
1
69
BC Canada
Feb 10, 2009
#6
  • Feb 10, 2009
  • #6
Your going to need to get someone with some metalworking skills (and tools) to help you with that one.
 

Rusty67

20+ Year Stangneter
Dec 3, 2002
3,749
37
109
LA, CA
Feb 10, 2009
#7
  • Feb 10, 2009
  • #7
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

Member
Feb 11, 2007
763
3
18
Feb 10, 2009
#8
  • Feb 10, 2009
  • #8
looks like someone put a jack under the strut rod mount
 
P

pyroman

Founding Member
Jul 28, 2002
480
3
18
Ennis, Texas
Feb 11, 2009
#9
  • Feb 11, 2009
  • #9
I'm suprised you didn't damage or break your strut rod too. I've broken 3 in my car.
 

Decurion

Member
Sep 28, 2006
353
0
16
Livonia, MI
Feb 11, 2009
#10
  • Feb 11, 2009
  • #10
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

Founding Member
Mar 2, 2001
1,260
3
39
Hagerstown, MD
Feb 11, 2009
#11
  • Feb 11, 2009
  • #11
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

Member
Feb 3, 2009
56
0
6
San Diego, CA, 92115
Feb 11, 2009
#12
  • Feb 11, 2009
  • #12
Im trying to keep it low budget, but I could care less about stock parts
 
B

bnickel

Founding Member
Aug 21, 2002
5,640
3
77
lubbock, texas
Feb 13, 2009
#13
  • Feb 13, 2009
  • #13
70grande said:
Im trying to keep it low budget, but I could care less about stock parts
Click to expand...



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

20+ Year Stangneter
Dec 3, 2002
3,749
37
109
LA, CA
Feb 13, 2009
#14
  • Feb 13, 2009
  • #14
Thats where I was going with it but I was going to wait and see what kind of budget he was shooting for.
 

yeloxr7

Member
Apr 18, 2005
429
0
16
Feb 19, 2009
#15
  • Feb 19, 2009
  • #15
70grande said:
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.
Click to expand...

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