body alignment issues please help.

[dewaynep]

Someone will correct me if I am wrong, but that car has coil springs and a panhard bar or trackarm to hold the differential in the center of the vehicle correct? If you put lowering springs in without accounting for the track-arm length your rear differential will be moved over simply because the track-arm is in a different position. You may need to get an adjustable track-arm if you want the wheels perfectly centered in relation to the fender skirts.

[Blt2Lst]

Originally Posted by DJShyn3

You know what , the accident was bad it was front end hitting a red light pole, but it was still drivable,

Then after 3 years of this accident i had another incident where the car slipped on a rainy day and went in to a ditch front first but the only thing i noticed was the radiator fan was hitting the cover,

With the radiator fan hitting the cover, it is a sure indication that something got bent in the accident.
Have a body shop check the frame for straightness..

When i purchased my 89 mustang, the owner had spun the car out in the rain and hit a curb on the right front, it was still drivable however it was pulling hard to the right.
I had the frame checked by a body shop and they said the frame rails were not bent. I then proceeded to replace my K member, spindle, and lower control arms before having an alignment done. That fixed the problem.

[DJShyn3]

Originally Posted by Blt2Lst

With the radiator fan hitting the cover, it is a sure indication that something got bent in the accident.
Have a body shop check the frame for straightness..

When i purchased my 89 mustang, the owner had spun the car out in the rain and hit a curb on the right front, it was still drivable however it was pulling hard to the right.
I had the frame checked by a body shop and they said the frame rails were not bent. I then proceeded to replace my K member, spindle, and lower control arms before having an alignment done. That fixed the problem.

May be I should have the frame check first, do you if you were charged for having you frame checked for straightness? I am a student so I don't have much to spare, that is why I am asking it everywhere to see the least cost effective way of ATLEAST finding out the problem. You know taking it to a shop they take forever and charge you so much just for a simple thing they probably already know.

I will be doing an alignment on all four wheels, I am just waiting for the guy to replace my front coil springs, then I will proceed with a alignment.

[DJShyn3]

Originally Posted by dewaynep

Someone will correct me if I am wrong, but that car has coil springs and a panhard bar or trackarm to hold the differential in the center of the vehicle correct? If you put lowering springs in without accounting for the track-arm length your rear differential will be moved over simply because the track-arm is in a different position. You may need to get an adjustable track-arm if you want the wheels perfectly centered in relation to the fender skirts.

I have replaced my rear lowered coil springs with stock height springs. so I don't need to replace to an adjustable track-arm. CORRECT?

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by DJShyn3

I will be doing an alignment on all four wheels, I am just waiting for the guy to replace my front coil springs, then I will proceed with a alignment.

your vehicle only has a 2 wheel alignment period....the front wheels are adjusted only period...



I if I had your ability understanding of motor vehicles ... I would go to a body shop , that has a frame straightening machine , to see if /what is wrong with the wheel/body miss alignment...

[Blt2Lst]

Originally Posted by DJShyn3

May be I should have the frame check first, do you if you were charged for having you frame checked for straightness? I am a student so I don't have much to spare, that is why I am asking it everywhere to see the least cost effective way of ATLEAST finding out the problem. You know taking it to a shop they take forever and charge you so much just for a simple thing they probably already know.

I will be doing an alignment on all four wheels, I am just waiting for the guy to replace my front coil springs, then I will proceed with a alignment.

Have the frame checked first.

It does not take that long to do so a body shop may only charge for 1 or 2 hours x their hourly rate, say $60/hour. Tell them you may have them paint your car in the future and they may do it for free.
I was not charged to have mine checked because I told them I was referred by my alignment shop who the owner knows. I guess i got lucky there.

You can only align the front wheels.

[DJShyn3]

Originally Posted by j cAT

your vehicle only has a 2 wheel alignment period....the front wheels are adjusted only period...



I if I had your ability understanding of motor vehicles ... I would go to a body shop , that has a frame straightening machine , to see if /what is wrong with the wheel/body miss alignment...

Originally Posted by Blt2Lst

Have the frame checked first.

It does not take that long to do so a body shop may only charge for 1 or 2 hours x their hourly rate, say $60/hour. Tell them you may have them paint your car in the future and they may do it for free.
I was not charged to have mine checked because I told them I was referred by my alignment shop who the owner knows. I guess i got lucky there.

You can only align the front wheels.

I believe that leaves me the only option to have a body shop look at the frame and if it needs adjustment. But finding one with the frame straightening machine is the problem.

I will do the front wheel alignment because I have replaced the inner/outer tie rod ends and I will have the springs replaced as well this week or so, and I can SEE IT THE FRONT WHEELS AREN'T SITTING ALIGNED, ITS VISUALLY VISIBLE one wheel is sitting a little right and the other one is sitting a little left, so that means alignment is OFF. once that is done and I am on the road safe, I will take it to a body shop and have the frame checked. BUT would this ever be because of the body mounts that the frame is shifted a little to the right?
and nobody mentioned the difference between body mounts & body mount bushings?

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by DJShyn3

I believe that leaves me the only option to have a body shop look at the frame and if it needs adjustment. But finding one with the frame straightening machine is the problem.

I will do the front wheel alignment because I have replaced the inner/outer tie rod ends and I will have the springs replaced as well this week or so, and I can SEE IT THE FRONT WHEELS AREN'T SITTING ALIGNED, ITS VISUALLY VISIBLE one wheel is sitting a little right and the other one is sitting a little left, so that means alignment is OFF. once that is done and I am on the road safe, I will take it to a body shop and have the frame checked. BUT would this ever be because of the body mounts that the frame is shifted a little to the right?
and nobody mentioned the difference between body mounts & body mount bushings?

the reason I said a body shop with the frame machine is because that is what they do...any body hardware defective they will quickly determine your problem...with your discriptions hard to tell from here whats up EXACTLY...


FRAME FIRST....if they say the frame and hardware/bushings ok or they fix it all then you get the wheel alignment...

also when springs are replaced wheel alignment is required...

[Blue Bowtie]

Originally Posted by DJShyn3

...and nobody mentioned the difference between body mounts & body mount bushings?

The body mounts are riveted to the frame rails. They are the base upon which sits the rubber body mount bushing.

[DJShyn3]

Originally Posted by Blue Bowtie

The body mounts are riveted to the frame rails. They are the base upon which sits the rubber body mount bushing.

Thank you for clearing that up.
I tried searching for it, but unfortunately only thing i find is body mount bushings, would anyone know where to get them?

[Blue Bowtie]

You can get them at a dealer, p/n 00457915:



The problem may not be those bushings, however.

[Scrapper]

you could have a busted coil spring or just plain wore out. try having someone going down the road behind you and see if it twisted since you have wrecked it a couple times.

[DJShyn3]

Originally Posted by Blue Bowtie

You can get them at a dealer, p/n 00457915:



The problem may not be those bushings, however.

So these are different than the ones here http://www.energysuspensionparts.com...?prod=3%2E4145
??

[Blue Bowtie]

Yes, the factory bushings are different. The factory bushings are actually three different thicknesses and are pink, blue, and green coded if I recall correctly. Somewhere on the interwebs is an in-depth article by Scott Mueller detailing just what and how to fix the body mount bushing problem. The factory intentionally left a lot of these bushings out during the assembly process to soften the ride and deaden body noise.

However, your problem may be something completely unrelated to these bushings and mounts.

[DJShyn3]

Originally Posted by j cAT

the reason I said a body shop with the frame machine is because that is what they do...any body hardware defective they will quickly determine your problem...with your discriptions hard to tell from here whats up EXACTLY...


FRAME FIRST....if they say the frame and hardware/bushings ok or they fix it all then you get the wheel alignment...

also when springs are replaced wheel alignment is required...

I have a question

WHO IS BETTER TO GO TO? A BODY FRAME SHOP WITH? A 3 dimensional measuring system with 4 point anchoring system $120 FLAT FOR 2HR, OR A BODY FRAME SHOP WITH LASER EQUIPPED FRAME MACHINE AT $75/HR (3 HOUR JOB)
Anyone has been to any of those 2 and would recommend for me for this problem?

Thanks