i have a 90 crx si, i hit a curb at an angle and it bent the
front passenger LCA to where it bowed it backwards a couple inches.
(i'm taking the pic lying under the car's center facing towards the inner passenger wheel)



so the wheel looks lopsided and pushed back at the same time.

when i looked under the car i can clearly see that it also bent the part
of the frame that the inner LCA attaches to, and its off quite a bit when
compared to the good side, below is a pic of the good LCA so you can see the difference in comparison:



i had a mechanic friend look at it and i paid him to replace what he
thought i needed, he first noticed there was a crack in the radius rod and
the CV joint boot was all busted up and so he replaced a CV axle and
radius rod on that passenger side although one of the two bolts that bolt the radius rod did'nt line up so he only was able to fit one bolt in.

so far i have not taken it in to a shop and i am trying to decide what to
do next, and keep in mind i am trying to get it done cheap as i can.

so obviously the LCA seems to be the main thing along with where it
attaches to the frame, then after getting that fixed then get an
alignment.

it might of bent the sway bar slightly but i don't know if that is as
important as the LCA cause i just want to get the car on the road again as
soon as possible.

one thing i thought i could try is get an LCA in the junkyard and try to put that on myself but i am skeptical about trying it since it seems like it would'nt fit correctly since
part of the subframe is bent where the LCA attaches ?????

i mean it seems like a puzzle and if i take it apart that it would be hard
to get all the links and parts together.

someone said i might need a whole new subframe ??? i could possibly get
a used subframe and LCA and have a friend help me and then take to an
alignment shop?? cause i heard that if i took it to a shop that it would
be around $800-900 or so, so if i just paid a friend mechanic and help him
i can probably save a few hundred dollars or so, but i would just be
scared we would miss something or overlook something important.

i just need help deciding what to do next ? and get it on road without wasting so much time but also not just letting a shop rape me either.

any advice or info you have is appreciated, thanks

- Jon

 

If you have significant frame damage you're screwed and the car is junk.
Take it to a shop where they can re-align the frame and let them take a professional view at what needs to be replaced.

You don't want to dink around with this stuff if you don't know what you're doing. Looking at the pictures, my opinion is that you have a really big problem, and the damage is more substantial than you can tell by those poor pictures.

 

In the worst senario the sub frame can be replaced

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SETI20 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If you have significant frame damage you're screwed and the car is junk.
Take it to a shop where they can re-align the frame and let them take a professional view at what needs to be replaced.

You don't want to dink around with this stuff if you don't know what you're doing. Looking at the pictures, my opinion is that you have a really big problem, and the damage is more substantial than you can tell by those poor pictures.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

i doubt its that fucked, I think a trip to the junk yard will solve your problems

 

i agree with boosted alchemist, i have fixed alot of suspension problems in fact i had a friend who chopped his springs and broke the strut tower housing, the strut physically went up so high it ripped the metal that holds the strut a little welding and a little pulling and now 3 years later the car still drives straight, if you do put a junkyard lca on it and it doesnt work you really havent lost too much

 

Take it to a professional.

 

just get all new parts. i got upper and lower control arms and alot more off of ebay. if u find it, theres a few ebay stores that sell all rare parts for these cars, CHEAP! i just got a new brake booster and M/C for less than 200. ive gotten the control arms for both sides for 25 bux on there too.

 

My friend did this to my car 3 days after I got it about 4 years ago. (never letting him drive again, he's not even a friend anymore).

Anyway, I fixed it all myself, it was just the subframe and radius rod. Pretty easy to replace if you have some common sense.

the hardest part about the subframe is getting the rear motor mount off, which isn't that bad with the right tools.

do it yourself, just make sure you torque those big bolts that hold the subframe to the body correctly. same goes for the bolts that hold the steering rack in place.

 

All advice is great.
Every situation is different. If you have to ask, take it to a professional becaus eyou clearly don't know what you're doing.

Your wheels staying put is kindof a big deal when driving a car you know.

 

thanks for all the replies, i just wanted to get different opinions and that always helps

i realise you can't tell everything from just the pics i posted also

i could'nt find any steps on how to install or un-install the subframe in the HELMS manual ???

if i could just see the steps and what is involved in taking off the subframe then it would help me decide whether or not to take it in to a shop or have a friend mechanic help.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SETI20 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">All advice is great.
Every situation is different. If you have to ask, take it to a professional becaus eyou clearly don't know what you're doing.

Your wheels staying put is kindof a big deal when driving a car you know.</TD></TR></TABLE>

i agree, im all for saving a buck or two but if you have any doubt don't mess around with it.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EL Vap133 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Take it to a professional . </TD></TR></TABLE>

 

i just don't understand why everyones saying to take it to a shop?

its obvious when looking under the car that the LCA is bent and also the rear-crossmember (subframe) only at the point the LCA attaches to? so if thats all thats bent and they are replaceable parts then i just need to replace those parts then i will take to a shop just for the alignment and for them to check how everything lines up etc... or anything else,

but if i don't replace the subframe and LCA myself then a shop would probably charge $330 for new subframe (when i can get $75 junkyard) and charge $115 for new LCA (when i can get for $35 at junkyard) along with anything else they pull out of their ***, it just makes sense to at least do this part myself with a friends help. so i know everyones saying take it to shop and i agree but i disagree on taking it to shop for them to do everything, i think do what i can myself then take to shop for alignment and have them check frame etc... but i can probably save replacing what i know is bad.

i replaced steering rack back in april so its still fresh in my mind how to drop that and then after that i kind of understand how to take subframe out and i understand how the LCA attaches cause i have done spring/shock install so i kind of understand how the front end works.

taking to a shop is more expensive but you get it done faster and that was one option but now that i see that a subframe is'nt somehting permenant and it comes undone and is replaceable now it gives me more hope to get something done at home first before taking in.

 

Because the subframe kinda connects to the frame. And if it's -that- fucked up how do you think chances are you have frame damage...?

We're saying that maybe even swapping subframes might not be enough. I've seen cars with less damage never ever drive in a straight line again.

These are your options.
Take it to a pro, who can tell you how big your problems are.
Maybe you're fine with swapping out the subframe.

Or, you go ahead, spend all that cash on parts, THEN take it to a mechanic, who hasn't seen your damage in the before stage, and have him make a guestimate.

You might up spending alot of money for nothing, and this way you have piece of mind.
You don't need to have them do all the work. Just have them make a proper assesment.

 

here you go
http://stores.ebay.com/HONDA-P...QtZkm

remember to check all bushings

 

I would replace front and rear crossmember along with one radius rod and control arm on the bent side. I would also replace the knucke and upper control arm and tie rod end as well just to be on the safe side, then get it aligned and see whats up

 

i agree that you can take care of this yourself without too much problem as long as you know how to work a wrench and have access to a junkyard.

find a car with a straight front end, and pull the subframe and anything else that you need. lots of places with give you an assembly price on it (100 for everything is what i'd be looking to pay).

after that it's just a few bolts- and nothing that you can't figure out if you've never done it before.

once it bolts up shoot it over to someone for an alignment and you should be good to go.

as far as the guys talking about damage to the body beyond the subframe, well, i've seen flattened lca-subframe connectors on a crx that had that side suspension torn off, that was otherwise fine.

 

Man i just hit a curb the other ******* day like a foot high, that **** pisses me off and now im worried. You know whats really fucked up though, ever since i got a camber kit on my car and it aligned it drives all erradic and **** and the steering wheel is crooked slightly, but they swear the toe and camber are fine but before i even had the camber kit my **** was straight.