Quote:
Originally Posted by 97 SL320
If the car is pushed sideways things can bend. Also take a close look at the LF wheel / tire for damage, an impact to the wheel can " steer " the wheel and bend the steering arm. I know on the 124 / 129 the arms bolt to the spindle and are pretty thin, not sure about your car.
Don't adjust anything yet, the body shop / alignment guy will want it in its original form. If the control arm is bent or the mountings tweaked, changing / pulling those parts will bring the toe very close to specs. This way they will know the problem is found.
Out of alignment is caused by something bending, if slight the adjusters are turned and things recover, if bent too far parts need to be changed. With your car I don't expect anything too drastic since the wheel is more or less intact.
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OK, that makes sense. I am taking it to my indy tomorrow, though he's not sure he can look at it until next week (more anxious waiting for me). I did not even think of the arm between the steering knuckle and tie rod (not sure why, I guess I was so focused on the LCA, linkage and frame!) ... now that I'm looking at the FSM I can see how that would bend. I'll have to look at it more closely, but will let my indy assess it.
I think what happened was since my wheels were turned slightly to the right (since I was in a right-hand turn lane) he must have hit the part of my tire that was sticking out. There is a mark on one side of the tire that fits that theory.
I'm eager to find out the damage so I can plan the next step, or look for parts if I need to.
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1987 300D, arctic white/palomino--314,000 miles
1978 240D 4-speed, Euro Delivery, light ivory/bamboo--370,000 miles
2005 Jeep Liberty CRD Limited, light khaki/slate--140,000 miles
2018 Chevy Cruze diesel, 6-speed manual, satin steel metallic/kalahari--19,000 miles
1982 Peugeot 505 diesel, 4-speed manual, blue/blue, 130,000 miles
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