Coilover Install NIGHTMARE Adviced needed *suspect frame damage*

[Grimgrak]

It all started off innocently enough with the rear control arm not fitting to well so i took a big ole hammer and pounded it in. Which in turn gouged abit of the rubber out of the new poly bushing Now on the upper control arm .... the gap is just massive.
After pounding the snot out of the left side it still doesn't fit and looks like this now

I suspect frame damage now because there is a crack on the passenger fender when I bought it and it came with mismatched front/rear tires. Last week when the hood cable broke I noticed the condensor was smooshed in about 1/2 inch.
I'm so frustrated at this point it's not like i can just throw on the oem stuff and take it to a body shop because I had to torch out and mangle all the bushings to get the old stuff out. So what are my options now? Throw the front end on some kinda cart and tow it to the bodyshop to get the frame straightened? There wern't many gaps in the body panels so I wonder if the frame has already been straightened and that the suspension was still bent....

Ideas, suggestions much appreciated..

 

[Houseofperformance]

Re: Coilover Install NIGHTMARE Adviced needed *suspect frame damage*

look at your first pic: i´m not sure, but it looks like the front part of the A-arm is bent. take your drivers side one and compare them.
i have the same kit and it works like a breeze.I only had to trim down the upper bolt-head and shim, so the coil doesn´t make contact.

edit: I also doubt that frame damage would stretch the frame almost 2" in that area.

 

[myclone]

Re: Coilover Install NIGHTMARE Adviced needed *suspect frame damage*

What do you guys suggest?

First off put the BFH down...seriously. Im not trying to be an ass here but clobbering the stamped frame mounts with a BFH is only going to make more work for you or whoever has to fix it (work=$$ squared).

Did you install/beat the other side yet? If not measure the distance between the upper A arm mounting points on the frame and write it down then walk around to the other side and remeasure the same points and write that down and now compare the two numbers. Is the measurement on one side WAY off compared to the other side? If the measurements are within an 1/8" or so then your frame is fine IMO.

If the above wont work then lemme know and I'll go out and measure the distance between the upper A arm mounting points on the spare frame I have and I'll get back to you before the day is out...its sitting outside covered in snow so you owe me a beer or twelve if I have to slog out there in the cold and measure it.

If youve already wailed the hell outta the other side to make it fit then youre gonna have to measure the distance between the A arm mounting points on the stock A arms then compare it to the piece youre trying to install. If it was me Id just lay the stock A arm of the same side on top the piece youre trying to install and it should then be blatantly obvious if one doesnt match the other considering how far off things look in the pic.

 

[jjorgensen52]

Re: Coilover Install NIGHTMARE Adviced needed *suspect frame damage*

That a-arm you're installing is definitely bent.

(yes I know the ball joint is upside down... found that out the hard way :roll: )
before you do anything else, try just taking a piece of steel rod or pipe and sliding it through the two bushings on the arm... bet you it won't pass through both without a lot of force / bending

And, for the record, my truck was in a head on collision with a rock wall at one point and did have the frame tweaked, but my kit still fit fine

 

[CKEITH]

Re: Coilover Install NIGHTMARE Adviced needed *suspect frame damage*

x2 that big f@%##% hammer is not the way to approach anything....especially a set of 1400 control arms.

oh yeah it is bent.

 

[warmpancakes]

Re: Coilover Install NIGHTMARE Adviced needed *suspect frame damage*

whos kit is this?

 

[Ian Turgeon]

Re: Coilover Install NIGHTMARE Adviced needed *suspect frame damage*

Agree with everyone here, it looks like that arm (to the right in the first pic) has a bit of a j-bar bend to it. If your old a-arms came off and they werent crumpled like a beer can, then I would expect these to fit very easily (only excuse for a *rubber* hammer here, is if its a 'snug' fit).

Check measurements and see whats up.

 

[BigBadSmoosh]

Re: Coilover Install NIGHTMARE Adviced needed *suspect frame damage*

you really fubared that suspension mount..

 

[Houseofperformance]

Re: Coilover Install NIGHTMARE Adviced needed *suspect frame damage*

whos kit is this?

it´s the RPM kit. i think it´s the best crafted product i ever bought for my truck, well worth the price.

 

[Grimgrak]

Re: Coilover Install NIGHTMARE Adviced needed *suspect frame damage*

Thanks guys I'll head down to the body shop today and compare the measurement between my stock arms and the chromoly ones.I'm pretty sure it was a bone headed move on my part pressing them incorrectly lesson learnt.
If the chromoly arms are bent will bending them back cause any cracks? Would I be better off just ordering a new arm?

The drivers side fits much easier. btw

 

[CKEITH]

Re: Coilover Install NIGHTMARE Adviced needed *suspect frame damage*

i would get a new one if it were me. bending it back could possibly cause a stress crack... which would'nt be good if it were to break.

chris

 

[jjorgensen52]

Re: Coilover Install NIGHTMARE Adviced needed *suspect frame damage*

i would get a new one if it were me. bending it back could possibly cause a stress crack... which would'nt be good if it were to break.

chris

x2. Every time you flex (ie bend) a metal it stretches, and thus weakens, it. In this application, no strength reduction at all is acceptable for safety's sake

 

[MikeRenz]

Re: Coilover Install NIGHTMARE Adviced needed *suspect frame damage*

if you're going to throw away that messed up arm i'll take it

 

[critical]

Re: Coilover Install NIGHTMARE Adviced needed *suspect frame damage*

You may want to check the frame rails for evidence of frame repair, or re-alignment.
If it was pulled on, youll see marks on the holes inthe frame. These holes are for clevis hooks to bite into. Also crawl under the truck and measure in an X- pattern from equal points on the frame.
thisll tell you imediately if the frame has a diamond shape. You should have it checked at a body shop before you go any further, as twists or sags are a little harder to determine.