(this was also posted on D-series.org, but not sure if there's as much experience there as on here).

Car is a 88 Civic standard.

I've noticed this, but the passenger side front wheel looks like it's further back than the other side; but frame looks fine(my old CRX looked the same, but had indefinite frame damage so it was scraped).
Anyways, went to install a 92 GSR sway bar today; and can't get the passenger side in for ****; I managed to get the bolt and some of the bushing through, and screwed it hoping it would "lever" itself straight...didn't work. Just said expletive it, and went to the other side....butter; everything fit into place perfectly.
Go back to the other side; check out the frame, radius arm, and front crossmember...everything looks fine. I've noticed the LCA also sits at a different angle than the other side(the "good" side; it angles slightly forward, while the "bad" side it's perpendicular).
Anyone have any idea WTF is going on? Bent frame? Radius arm bushings "warped" or something?

Pic #1-2 is the passenger side, #3 is driver side. #4 is angle of the axle on passenger side which leads me to believe the rear subframe is ok, but something's up with the front. Don't mind the grey hairy thing; it's just a cat, and the random wiring and zip ties(rewiring and just needed to tuck some stuff out the way).

 

strangely enough, my hatch passenger side seems to have more gap than the driver side as well.. noticeably more. i know my car was in a significant collision some time in the past..

i have done some reading on the issue, and i have seen a couple threads talking about how in a lot of front end collisions, the body shops concentrate on front crossmember issue, and tend to neglect rear crossmember damage on occasion. so they put everything back together in the front, but there are definite issues with the rear crossmember that cause alignment issues similar to what you and i both seem to have.

the longterm list of things i need to get for my car is a new rear crossmember and front crossmember, in an attempt to get my alignment back in check.

The way to check is i guess to measure different points on the chassis and compare results. im not a body guy, so i dont know the points off the top of my head, but it seems like measuring out an x to similar points on the front end of the car will tell you what is jacked up. like, pass side rear crossmember mount point to front driverside crossmember mount point, and then do the reverse and compare lengths.

a body shop could probably tell you what to measure to figure it out.. good luck.

 

Thanks for your feedback. The carfax on the car seems clean, and the previous owner said the car was in no accidents(although, I've noticed the tie rods and lower ball joint have been replaced, but don't remember which side; when I got the car the wheel bearing was loose on the passenger side so I replaced both sides with 91 EX knuckles/rotors and DA brakes). Also, everything on the front seems to be fine.

If the rear crossmember was the issue; it could definitely create some room but wouldn't the wheel still be "crooked" in the wheel well? I mean, In my situation, the crossmember would have to be moved back to get the LCA angled like the other side. If I were to correct that, then the wheel would be further back into the back of the wheel well.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by K2e2vin &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
If the rear crossmember was the issue; it could definitely create some room but wouldn't the wheel still be "crooked" in the wheel well? I mean, In my situation, the crossmember would have to be moved back to get the LCA angled like the other side. If I were to correct that, then the wheel would be further back into the back of the wheel well.</TD></TR></TABLE>

well, the toe in my car is what is kinda messed up, especially on the passenger side.. my front tie rod is tightened as far as it will go, and i think i still toe out like 2 degrees in the front pass side. it doesnt look crooked at all, but the alignment sheet says otherwise.

either way, i think getting your car aligned and seeing what the sheet says about your alignment is the best thing to do next. that will help further refine what structure is causing the strange positioning.

 

I'll definitely do that.

Anyone else ever had this problem?

 

well, a few months back i hydroplaned and hit the curb on a turn. i bet the radius rod, LCA (easily visible). i took it to an alignment shop and they said that my rear cross member was slightly bent on the passenger side (barely visible noticable). even though it may not look it, more then likely your rear crossmember is bent also. my wheel is also a little bit closer on the passenger side ~1/2". you may also want to check you make sure your front crossmember didnt move, shift.

 

If it's the rear crossmember, I can fix that easily since I have a spare. I checked the front, it "looks" like it didn't shift or anything, but like my second CRX I had, it didn't show until I removed the bolts and they were at an angle.

How did they repair yours? Did they pull it back into place or replace the bent parts?

 

easy way to check is to use the finger method... when wheels are on the car, and car is on the ground. see how many fingers you can fit between the tire and the fender. and do the same on the other side, if they are diff, then it is bent back however many finger diff it is...... thats how i usually check.... hope that made any sence.... lol.

 

Saying that with ur pic is just wrong

Janos

 

LOL, just noticed that.