Pix of what the car looked like after the accident would help. But, if caster is off after swapping out the control arm something is definately out of spec. Maybe the mounting point of the control arm. Hope your strut tower wasnt twisted in some way, but its possible.

A free alignment check at a tire shop might point out the problem. Just a suggestion.

 

sorry no pics. I fixed it like 2 days later. fuck, my buddy has a lift so I should put that shit up and check it out. I mean I figured if the tension rod bolts to the nuckle and the lower control arm bolts to the nuckle fine and the tie rod hooks up fine and the strut comes into place easy then propbley fine. I was thinking if something was bent that I couldn't see that it would alter the fitment of all those parts coming together at the knuckle?.. ok as osama tim laden stated I have HORRIBLE sentence structure I realize this. English wasn't my strongest subject infact I did horrible in school, was so fixed on learning about everything else that's interesting...o well.

so if someone could throw some more possibilities at me so when i get it in the air I can go threw a list to check shit out. twisted strut tower is now ont he list. I need more Ideas, I wont think of everything looking at it on my own.

 

: shared_user interface error.

 

Just reference the other side of the cars front suspension to see where there is a difference, when its in the air. Of course it would need to be necessary that your caster on the other side is ok.

You can get crazy detailed on this too. Get a factory service manual, which would give you all the demensions and specs, then start measuring...

 

This thread is almost hopeless. You talk about having adjustable tension rods and lower control arms but do you have them now? If so and nothings bent, tie a string line around the whole car center line of the wheels. Tape a plum-bob center of the fender and now you should be able to adjust to get it close to spec.

If you dont have adjustables, something IS bent. Fix it then get an alignment.

 

acutely, what i was asking for is the best shocks I can buy because my shock is bent on the passenger side. so i wanted input into what I should get, im not replacing one shock Im getting all 4 for the car. Also I asked about camber and caster plates so if ever out of spec again then the alignment shop can adjust. I never asked about tension rods really or lower control arms as I w s told they throw your geometry off and plates are the way to go. OBVIOUSLY something is fucked up and Im pretty sure its just the shock. I took it off the car on my lunch break and checked it out. THe passenger side tire, is pushed twords the back more, the gap between the passenger side and driver side clearance from the fender to the tire is like a inch difference. Shock is bent and hasn't been replaced. the "bar" in teh middle of the shock that slides up and down im assuming got bent since it is bolted into the strut tower and the wheel got pushed back into my wheel well twords the back of the car like i stated before.


so can the shock "rod" being bent effect caster? If some one can answer this It would really help me out as Ive been wondering this all day hoping that this is my caster problem. If needed I can take pics

 

your explanations are making my head hurt.
or its the run on paragraph. or both.

dude, you tell us. you hit something. whats bent? you have the ultimate advantage over us, because you can look at the car. we cant. we can guess, you can look.
so, like, do that

 

Allright. Ill say it again. I hit the curb on passenger side wheel. went into wheel well so far back that tire couldn't be rotated. Inner tie rod got bent and lower control arm got bent. I replaced those along with a end link for the sway bar. I have not replaced the shock on the passenger side. Since its bolted into the tower im assuming when the wheel went back it bent it. Im wondering if you know if a bent shock will affect caster. I also wanted to replace all my shocks since I have to replace this one. I was wondering what shock and spring set up you think is best. I remember you osama tim commenting in a thread on shocks and set up a while back so maybe you know what is the best set up of springs and shocks.I remember you talking about how a certain brand of shocks and spring set up would rock megan coils and alot of other low end coilovers, but cannot find the thread anywhere. I have not had the luxery of experiencing different rides of different shocks so I am asking you guys since Im in the dark on what to buy. rather then go waste money I want to hear from your guys experience.

 

you probably have a bent tension rod at the very least. possible bent shock case, but less likely.