thAviEtbOi 37

I recently noticed that there is a difference in gap on the front wheel wells of my car. The drivers side wheel only has 1.5 inch gap between the tires itself and the fender pointing towards the cabin. While the passenger has 2 in gap.

When I drive I know the steering wheel pulls to the right.

I just lowered my car with a 1 finger gap all around and no camber kit yet, but this happened even before it got dropped

Here is the driverside gap:

The wheel well damage:


Any clue on how to fix this? It chewed up my drivers side tire, I don't want to replace it and have it happen again.

Thanks for the help

fsttyms1

Well the tire shouldnt be hitting that. It appears that something metal hit that to dent and crease it like that. I would take the tire off to see if any thing suspension related broke

Mr Hyde

Has this car even been in any kind of accident?? Sounds like a suspension piece is bent on the drivers side.

thAviEtbOi 37

It has been in an acident before, but was on the paasenger side and did not hit the susension at all.

I had the car for 20,000 miles but noticed this about 1,000 miles ago.

I will check to see if it is the suspension hitting that part and making that dent.

I thought it was actually the tires, but I'll check.

fsttyms1

The tire didnt do that, plus there would be different marks from rubbing, not a actual impact mark

oVerBoost

so you're saying the front driver's side is lower than the passenger's side? happened to my friend's integra and he just swapped the driver/passenger springs and that seemed to fix the problem. *shrugs* dono if your case is due to uneven settling of springs though.

thAviEtbOi 37

It's not lower but the wheel itself seems push back towards the cabin area.

Good point Kris

fsttyms1

now that you say that it does look further back . Have you taken the wheel off to see whats bent/broke?

thAviEtbOi 37

I took the wheels off a few days ago and everything seemed fine. I just had my friend take a look at it and said it might be something with my bottom control arm. He also said that I most likely hit something and damage a certain part, don't recall exactly what it was but I don't remeber hitting anything.

Will take it off tomorrow to take another closer look.

Mr Hyde

Probably a bent control arm or something of that nature. Definitely looks pushed back to me in those pics, and you had to have hit something to do damage like that.

fsttyms1

thAviEtbOi 37

Well I took off the wheel today and nothing was hitting that area. Only the tires were close to it and I would assume that it would hit it when I go over bumps and stuff.

Nothing "appeared" to be bent, but I heard that from multiple people now. I will have me friend take closer look at it to determine the actual damage.

I hope it is an easy fix or fast one atleast.

ResidualFreedom

there wouldn't be somehting there hitting that location.. Something you ran over hit there AND your suspension causing the visable damage/ discrepency. The fact that there is a impact mark gives the hint that something hit up inyour wheel well, the fact your suspension is off would support that. There wouldn't currently be somethign loose hitting that spot, that would be too ovbious.

thAviEtbOi 37

I took it to a shop for a quick look and they said that my knuckle was messed up.

They said for me to get an alignment to determine the definate cause of it.

ResidualFreedom

well yiou can't properly align something that is broken or bent... Ifyour knuckle has damage to it then it may have to be replaced.. If they try to align your car and it won't properly align due to the damaged knuckle, they might charge you for the alignment, then a new knuckle, then another alignment after the new knuckle is installed. Ensure they won't charge you for the first aignment if the car does need a second one.

fsttyms1

I think at this point it would be best brought to some one who knows what they are looking at as far as what is damaged and what needs to be fixed like the dealer.

thAviEtbOi 37

Well I my friend is going to do the alignment for free, so I am not worried on that point. But I really need to take it to a shop like fsttyms1 said that know what they are doing. MOst shop that I go to just take a quick look and do nothing else.

fsttyms1

Exactly. it needs to go some where where they know what they are looking at and actually take off the wheel and inspect things

99TLHeather

My car pulls slightly also..when i got my alignment...the specs showed that my caster was off. Note, caster is supposedly not adjustable.

I've hit some major pot holes that blew my tires and pretty much had to put the rim into the garbage. Anyway, it could be a bent/damaged spindle..control arm. I couldn't really figure out which spindle/control arm is bent. You'll need to get the specs from the dealer and measure it.