Investigating IRS damage

[Storm728]

Curbed the cobra pretty well. right spindle is toed in significantly and left one is slightly toed in. pulled the irs, completely tore it apart. matched up controls arms from both sides. each side looks identical back to back. axles are straight and rotate fine. measured the ears on the subframe for arms in relation to the other side and they all check out. toe links appear fine, cant see any deviations putting them next to each other. i thought the spindles would be the culprit since they were slightly skewed at the cross axis joint with the irs together, but back to back they look identical. im stumped as far as this goes, curious if anyone has any experience or knowledge as to whats going on here

 

[0-MYSTACHROME-4]

How about the toe links?

 

[Storm728]

How about the toe links?

lined them up. they look straight to the eye. the right wheel which is the worst of the two by far is pretty toed in. heres a pic

 

[fred50stang]

From that perspective it doesn't look right. Should probably take it to an alignment shop. They should be able to tell you what's wrong. Then you can go from there, replacing parts if needed.

 

[R.D.P.]

Strange, seems like that would be pretty easy to find with things that far out.

 

[Storm728]

Strange, seems like that would be pretty easy to find with things that far out.

thats what i thought but here i am

 

[Blkkbgt]

I say toe links or the toe link mounts near the diff are bent. Small possibility that the cross axis joints could be jacked up but they would have to be jammed into that position.

 

[SlowSVT]

What, no pics of the carnage?

 

[Storm728]

I say toe links or the toe link mounts near the diff are bent. Small possibility that the cross axis joints could be jacked up but they would have to be jammed into that position.

the joints move about freely. ill check the toe links

 

[Storm728]

I say toe links or the toe link mounts near the diff are bent. Small possibility that the cross axis joints could be jacked up but they would have to be jammed into that position.

well looks like you might be correct. i put the arms and spindles back together without the toe links and the spindles can sit straight. then i lined up the right side link which is the worst and it reaches a little too far and when i put it up into the spindle it moves the spindle toed out quite a bit. i also noticed the nuts taht hold the toe links to the subframe are deformed probably because of the hit. not sure if its the links themselves or where they mount to. but in theory couldnt i just get new links and compensate for the toe by adjusting the links

 

[Storm728]

What, no pics of the carnage?

per request

 

[Blkkbgt]

well looks like you might be correct. i put the arms and spindles back together without the toe links and the spindles can sit straight. then i lined up the right side link which is the worst and it reaches a little too far and when i put it up into the spindle it moves the spindle toed out quite a bit. i also noticed the nuts taht hold the toe links to the subframe are deformed probably because of the hit. not sure if its the links themselves or where they mount to. but in theory couldnt i just get new links and compensate for the toe by adjusting the links

I highly doubt the mounts are bent. I would take a very close look at them though because you never know.

As long as the mounts aren't bent all you need is new toe links. If the mounts are bent you can probably pick up a used IRS frame for cheaper then having the mounts repaired, unless you can weld and fabricate.

If you want some stock links I have a set I would send your way for a good price.

 

[Storm728]

I highly doubt the mounts are bent. I would take a very close look at them though because you never know.

As long as the mounts aren't bent all you need is new toe links. If the mounts are bent you can probably pick up a used IRS frame for cheaper then having the mounts repaired, unless you can weld and fabricate.

If you want some stock links I have a set I would send your way for a good price.

thanks for the reply. but you know man i took a level and rulers to the things and i just cant hit the nail on the head. something is definitely bent and i think like you said the mounts would not bend before the toe links bent or broke. ill keep in mind your toe links for sale though and let you know asap

 

[Blkkbgt]

thanks for the reply. but you know man i took a level and rulers to the things and i just cant hit the nail on the head. something is definitely bent and i think like you said the mounts would not bend before the toe links bent or broke. ill keep in mind your toe links for sale though and let you know asap

If you installed the toe links and noticed the tire toe out then the problem is either the links, the mounts on the irs or the spindle. Nothing else should have an effect. Post up some pics of those areas maybe we can spot something.

 

[Storm728]

If you installed the toe links and noticed the tire toe out then the problem is either the links, the mounts on the irs or the spindle. Nothing else should have an effect. Post up some pics of those areas maybe we can spot something.

well without the toe links the spindles fit perfectly in the arm ears and the cross axis joints are seated right. ill get pics up today

 

[SlowSVT]

per request

It's kind of hard assessing the damage without seeing what it did to the suspension components. If you wacked it hard enough what often happens is everything along the way gets bent a little. It looks fine even when you put replacement parts on but for some reason you can't get it to align properly. Only to find out the A-arm is tweaked, the mounting ears have shifted a little, the toe link bracket moved. It's not easy to take measurements off the suspension to determine if the alignment has been shifted but you don't want to put it all back together only to find out it has.

Post more detailed pics

 

[Storm728]

It's kind of hard assessing the damage without seeing what it did to the suspension components. If you wacked it hard enough what often happens is everything along the way gets bent a little. It looks fine even when you put replacement parts on but for some reason you can't get it to align properly. Only to find out the A-arm is tweaked, the mounting ears have shifted a little, the toe link bracket moved. It's not easy to take measurements off the suspension to determine if the alignment has been shifted but you don't want to put it all back together only to find out it has.

Post more detailed pics

ill get a bunch of detailed pics up tommorow

 

[Storm728]

It's kind of hard assessing the damage without seeing what it did to the suspension components. If you wacked it hard enough what often happens is everything along the way gets bent a little. It looks fine even when you put replacement parts on but for some reason you can't get it to align properly. Only to find out the A-arm is tweaked, the mounting ears have shifted a little, the toe link bracket moved. It's not easy to take measurements off the suspension to determine if the alignment has been shifted but you don't want to put it all back together only to find out it has.

Post more detailed pics

without tie rod

with tie rod

bracket

 

[Blkkbgt]

Can you post up a better picture of the toe link mount? It could be the picture but it looks like it has a slight bow in it just behind the bolt hole. Again it could be the picture.

I would also pull that toe link apart and roll it on a flat surface. pulling it apart will allow you to roll each end by itself to tell what part is actually bent. Odds are its the inner section as it is weaker.

 

[Storm728]

Can you post up a better picture of the toe link mount? It could be the picture but it looks like it has a slight bow in it just behind the bolt hole. Again it could be the picture.

I would also pull that toe link apart and roll it on a flat surface. pulling it apart will allow you to roll each end by itself to tell what part is actually bent. Odds are its the inner section as it is weaker.