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‘75 2002 with a front suspension issue


djpdiag
Go to solution Solved by TobyB,

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Hi 2002FAQ community.


I’ve been chipping away at my ‘02s needs as time allows since I bought it about a year ago. I’ve done quite a bit of suspension work all the way around to it recently and something going on in the front end has me puzzled. I’ve read about ‘02 lower control arms and strut tubes bending from potholes, etc and I’m thinking that either of those might be the reason I have so much negative camber going on here in the RF wheel. As you’ll see in the pics, the top of the RF wheel is tucked under the lip of the fender quite a bit vs the LF. It’s doesn’t seem to me that the bottom of the wheel is pushed inward any further than the LF.

 

I replaced the front strut inserts and coil springs and didn’t see anything obvious going on with the tube when I had it apart nor can I see anything distorted in the control arm. The old strut inserts were completely wiped and leaked dry into the tubes but didn’t seem bent in anyway upon inspection. The RF strut tower looks to be fine as well and it doesn’t appear that the RF wheel castor is off as the same amount of distance to the fender fore/aft the wheel is present on the left side. Any guidance or suggestions or things to look for are appreciated.
 

Pictures 1 and 3 are of the RF wheel, 2 and 4 are of the LF for comparisons sake. Thanks in advance!

60AEC996-12A1-45F0-A3B2-43F7E8380EA8.jpeg

9B3FC6EA-FF79-4BCC-B852-F66122169DC0.jpeg

525E7C7F-1B31-4D40-ABB8-69297CE9ABEF.jpeg

7B8BBAEB-0EF4-44D4-A8CB-389A83C33DFB.jpeg

Edited by djpdiag
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Fenders can lie (oe vs a/market, how assembled etc.). Take measurements/alignment job to see where you at. Check rims offsets - if numbers match then measure. Wouldn't be first time that the number is incorrect in the rim.

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2002 -73 M2, 2002 -71 forced induction. bnr32 -91

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9 minutes ago, M3M3M3 said:

most smart phones have a "level" function.  put a straight edge on the tire and put phone on straight edge, read the degrees.

 

That is brilliant.

 

Take a gold star out of petty cash, Marshall  :)

 

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'69 Granada... long, long ago  

'71 Manila..such a great car

'67 Granada 2000CS...way cool

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Look closely at the strut tube and see if there is any distortion on the tube itself right where it goes into the hub assembly       If they have gotten bent from a small accident or even hitting a bad pothole this is usually where the bend     Does not take much to get a strut out of specs

 

Thanks, Rick

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2 hours ago, Son of Marty said:

When you jack up the car grab the r/f tire top and bottom and see if it has any play in the strut ball joint.

Thanks for the suggestion, I did check this when I was replacing the struts and springs and found no movement here to my surprise.

 

2 hours ago, M3M3M3 said:

pic of top of strut would also help.  try actually measuring the camber.    most smart phones have a "level" function.  put a straight edge on the tire and put phone on straight edge, read the degrees.

Great suggestion on the straight edge, will try this out in a few days when I look into it. When you say a picture of the "top of strut" do you mean the strut mount? I did replace them both when I was replacing the struts and springs. If you were referring to something else, please elaborate and I will check it in a couple of days. Thanks.

 

2 hours ago, tzei said:

Fenders can lie (oe vs a/market, how assembled etc.). Take measurements/alignment job to see where you at. Check rims offsets - if numbers match then measure. Wouldn't be first time that the number is incorrect in the rim.

Thanks. Ill pull the wheels back off when I look into it again and report back. Its certainly possible this set is mismatched I suppose. Ill look closer at the fenders too, the car has had repaints for sure and its overall history is unknown to me.

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20 minutes ago, stephers said:

Look closely at the strut tube and see if there is any distortion on the tube itself right where it goes into the hub assembly       If they have gotten bent from a small accident or even hitting a bad pothole this is usually where the bend     Does not take much to get a strut out of specs

 

Thanks, Rick

Thanks Rick, I had just remembered something related to this - when I had the car on my lift last I recall that the distance between the inside of the RF tire and the strut tube was less vs the distance on the LF tire and strut. Should I be looking for a ding or wrinkle or something to that effect where it connects to the hub assembly?

 

Ill update this thread again once I have the car up in the air and can document the suggestions with some pics. Thanks guys!

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  • Solution

If the inside sidewalls of the tires are at uneven distances

from the tubes, that's a pretty good

indication that a strut's bent... 

you're not always going to see it at the base.

 

t

 

  • Like 2

"I learn best through painful, expensive experience, so I feel like I've gotten my money's worth." MattL

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