shop tells me i have frame damage!!

PersianLegacy · 10-17-2013, 11:16 AM

so i had to take my lady Z to fire stone in my town for an alignment.

i recently put 20mm H&R bolt on spacers on the rear, and soon after my alignment was a mess. did a lot of research and reading and i came to the conclusion that the alignment could go out of spec if you install spacers but not by this much!!!!!

My rear driver side wheel was at -3.7!!!

the rear passenger side was off too but not that bad.

The dude was telling me that he could only push it out 1 degree since thats how much the bolt allows for. then he goes on and tells me that something wrong with the rear, that i might have frame damage or something is bent.

Now this is not my daily driving car. in the past 2 months i might have put 5k miles on it tops. I have not hit any pot holes to bent my frame or anything in the rear! i have not been in an accident, i dont drive the car like fast and furious style, and do not track it.

so l left his shop with the rear driver side tire at -2.7.

any ideas? any suggestions? my rear tire is shot so i bought new tires and dont want to put them on cause it will just wear the hell out of them...

thanks.

Mt Tam I am · 10-17-2013, 11:21 AM

It is as if you had your car totaled and repaired by the valet, while you were having dinner.

Good luck.

kenchan · 10-17-2013, 11:26 AM

spacers will reduce wheel rate so the suspension will act softer, but should not make drastic changes. especially not at only 20mm on sport wheels.

PersianLegacy · 10-17-2013, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenchan

spacers will reduce wheel rate so the suspension will act softer, but should not make drastic changes. especially not at only 20mm on sport wheels.

he started blaming it on spacer, but i did crazy research before i put the 20mm spacers on. no where did i read that it will cause this drastic of an alignment issue

LostSol · 10-17-2013, 11:34 AM

Spacers WILL NOT change your suspension providing they:
are of high quality
are hubcentric
are installed properly

kenchan · 10-17-2013, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PersianLegacy

he started blaming it on spacer, but i did crazy research before i put the 20mm spacers on. no where did i read that it will cause this drastic of an alignment issue

maybe the firestone place's rack is out of caliberation?

you know they use it all the time for all sorts of cars from cool cars to junk cars.

speedfreek · 10-17-2013, 11:36 AM

You need a rear camber kit and toe bolts to get your alignment back in spec. Take a look at SPC or SPL depending on how much you want to spend.

PersianLegacy · 10-17-2013, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenchan

maybe the firestone place's rack is out of caliberation?

you know they use it all the time for all sorts of cars from cool cars to junk cars.

that is what everyone is telling me. i should have spend the money and taken it to dealer or a better shop.. im kicking myself in the *** for it now..

PersianLegacy · 10-17-2013, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedfreek

You need a rear camber kit and toe bolts to get your alignment back in spec. Take a look at SPC or SPL depending on how much you want to spend.

But what would throw off the alignment this bad tho...? my car is the stock sport suspension.

Daveski38 · 10-17-2013, 12:39 PM

If your tire is wearing out I don't think Firestone's equipt. is shot.

LostSol · 10-17-2013, 12:39 PM

If you look at your wheels, does one appear to be leaning in more than the other? 3.7 degrees is pretty visible.

PersianLegacy · 10-17-2013, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LostSol

If you look at your wheels, does one appear to be leaning in more than the other? 3.7 degrees is pretty visible.

o yea! it was so visible! it was so bad comparing to the other side. the inner wall of the tire is so chewed up, when they jacked it up i saw the surface of the wires showing on the outer edge....

LostSol · 10-17-2013, 12:56 PM

have you ever hit a curb? been in an accident?

PersianLegacy · 10-17-2013, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LostSol

have you ever hit a curb? been in an accident?

nope never. had a flat tire once on the same side 10k miles ago and got a new tire. thats about it. when i did get a tire i had it balanced, mounted, and got an alignment to make sure all is good. and everything was good.

2011 Nismo#91 · 10-17-2013, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PersianLegacy

I have not hit any pot holes

Bent inner tire rod

10-17-2013, 11:16 AM	#1 (permalink)
PersianLegacy Base Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: NJ Posts: 121 Drives: 2010 370Z M6 Rep Power: 13	shop tells me i have frame damage!! so i had to take my lady Z to fire stone in my town for an alignment. i recently put 20mm H&R bolt on spacers on the rear, and soon after my alignment was a mess. did a lot of research and reading and i came to the conclusion that the alignment could go out of spec if you install spacers but not by this much!!!!! My rear driver side wheel was at -3.7!!! the rear passenger side was off too but not that bad. The dude was telling me that he could only push it out 1 degree since thats how much the bolt allows for. then he goes on and tells me that something wrong with the rear, that i might have frame damage or something is bent. Now this is not my daily driving car. in the past 2 months i might have put 5k miles on it tops. I have not hit any pot holes to bent my frame or anything in the rear! i have not been in an accident, i dont drive the car like fast and furious style, and do not track it. so l left his shop with the rear driver side tire at -2.7. any ideas? any suggestions? my rear tire is shot so i bought new tires and dont want to put them on cause it will just wear the hell out of them... thanks.

10-17-2013, 11:21 AM	#2 (permalink)
Mt Tam I am A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: California Posts: 10,709 Drives: 370Z T/S/N 6MT & XKE Rep Power: 3843	It is as if you had your car totaled and repaired by the valet, while you were having dinner. Good luck. kenchan and onzedge like this. __________________ "Does the carpet match the drapes? NO!!! I don't date bald women." Nissan Motorsports 34R Oil Cooler. Stillen CBE. Hotchkis Sport Sway Bars. KW Variant 3 Coilover System. Stillen Gen3 CAI. Michelin Pilot Super Sport. Stillen Brake Ducts. Carbotech™ XP10/XP8 Pads. Z1 Front Rotors. Z1 Stainless Brake Lines. Two degrees of camber

10-17-2013, 11:26 AM	#3 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	spacers will reduce wheel rate so the suspension will act softer, but should not make drastic changes. especially not at only 20mm on sport wheels. onzedge likes this.

10-17-2013, 11:34 AM	#5 (permalink)
LostSol Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Orlando Posts: 1,021 Drives: 2010 370z 40th A.E. Rep Power: 15	Spacers WILL NOT change your suspension providing they: are of high quality are hubcentric are installed properly gomer_110 likes this. __________________ 2010 Nissan 370Z 40th Anniversary Edition #762/1000 \| Forgestar \| Michelin \| Swift \| TRS \| Z Speed \| ARK \| Z1 \| Hawk \| CFE \| Evo-R \| GTMat \| Stillen \| Seibon \| Whiteline \| Pioneer \|

10-17-2013, 11:36 AM	#7 (permalink)
speedfreek A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Huntsville,AL Posts: 1,724 Drives: '12 370Z PW 6sp Rep Power: 18	You need a rear camber kit and toe bolts to get your alignment back in spec. Take a look at SPC or SPL depending on how much you want to spend. kidkotic2001 likes this. __________________ Tomei\|Berk\|Takeda\|ZSpeed\|Fortune Auto\|Swift\|Eibach\|SPL\|Carbotech\|Motul\|Powertrix\|Stillen\|Aerojacket\|Z1\|Forgestar\|Enkei\|Project Kics\|Nismo Ti\|Llumar speedfreek's journal

10-17-2013, 12:39 PM	#10 (permalink)
Daveski38 Base Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: South of Houston Posts: 114 Drives: 10 BC A/T T Roadster Rep Power: 15	If your tire is wearing out I don't think Firestone's equipt. is shot.

10-17-2013, 12:39 PM	#11 (permalink)
LostSol Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Orlando Posts: 1,021 Drives: 2010 370z 40th A.E. Rep Power: 15	If you look at your wheels, does one appear to be leaning in more than the other? 3.7 degrees is pretty visible. __________________ 2010 Nissan 370Z 40th Anniversary Edition #762/1000 \| Forgestar \| Michelin \| Swift \| TRS \| Z Speed \| ARK \| Z1 \| Hawk \| CFE \| Evo-R \| GTMat \| Stillen \| Seibon \| Whiteline \| Pioneer \|

10-17-2013, 12:56 PM	#13 (permalink)
LostSol Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Orlando Posts: 1,021 Drives: 2010 370z 40th A.E. Rep Power: 15	have you ever hit a curb? been in an accident? __________________ 2010 Nissan 370Z 40th Anniversary Edition #762/1000 \| Forgestar \| Michelin \| Swift \| TRS \| Z Speed \| ARK \| Z1 \| Hawk \| CFE \| Evo-R \| GTMat \| Stillen \| Seibon \| Whiteline \| Pioneer \|

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Frame Stabilizer Bolt?	rhd	Brakes & Suspension	7	02-25-2013 12:20 PM
Anyone know of a good mod/body shop/restoration shop in Maryland?	dmhenderson	Mid-Atlantic Region	28	09-29-2012 01:31 PM
Any Good Body Shop/Collision Shop in NY/NNJ area?	galanhk	Nissan 370Z Warranty / Scheduled Maintenance / Servicing / Repairs	1	12-28-2011 12:33 PM
Padding on top frame rails	IDZRVIT	Nissan 370Z Roadster (Convertible)	0	07-14-2011 07:07 AM
Would you be mad? Tire shop damage.	Unclemeaty	Wheels & Tires	25	12-26-2010 05:48 PM