Front tires off center

[Jordan325iC]

Many months ago I hit a curb with both the drivers side wheels (hard enough to pop both tires and bend the front rim).

The car steering has a heavy tendency to the left. The front drivers side wheel is noticably closer to the door (~1.5") than the passenger front wheel.

Here is a dramatic recreation of my problem.


I've swapped out the strut assemblies. Everything looks straight and bolted back in without issues. Anybody have any idea what could fix this problem and get my steering back where it should be?

[PiercedE30]

open the hood, measure from the rear upper strut mount bolt to the firewall on both sides. If you did enough damage, you may have actually moved your upper mount towards the firewall some. Also, how are your control arms and bushings?

[Mike325]

Did you have an alighnment done after the accident? Sounds like you bent the strut tower or the control arm. You have a caster problem.

[Jordan325iC]

The control arm very well might be bent. I had a very hard time getting the old one bolted back in. I've got a brand new one and bushing that I could install.

[PУCCKAЯ_e30ka]

it must be control arm! the strut tower whouldn't move. It's control arm... ask me how I know! ;)

[moatilliatta]

how do you know?

[ddavidv]

I also vote control arm. Most common failure on an impact like that.

[Teaguer]

Yes control arm .

If you've got a new one get your ass of the computer and slap it on already . Gosh !

[jlevie]

There's a good chance that both control arms were bent in an incident like that. So replace both of them.

[markseven]

Did you have an alighnment done after the accident?

Get a nice four wheel alignment done. Whether or not the tech can bring the caster within spec will shed light on your situation. IMHO, an alignment is mandatory after hitting a curb hard enough to bend the rims and pop the tires.

[ZiMMie]

Control Arms.
Chk them

[asubimmer]

Get a nice four wheel alignment done. Whether or not the tech can bring the caster within spec will shed light on your situation. IMHO, an alignment is mandatory after hitting a curb hard enough to bend the rims and pop the tires.

you realize the e30 has only one adjustment from the factory?

[Jordan325iC]

Alright, alright. I'll do the damn control arm! :D

[markseven]

you realize the e30 has only one adjustment from the factory?

No camber, caster or toe adjustments?

[asubimmer]

rear is fixed and the front only has toe adjustments