2nd Gen Dakota Tech 1997 - 2004 Dodge Dakota Tech - The ultimate forum for technical help on the 2nd Gen Dakota.

Bent control arm

Old Nov 23, 2014 | 09:49 PM
  #11  
magnethead's Avatar
magnethead
Legend
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 8,058
Likes: 184
From: Fort Worth, TX
Default

Just get it aligned- trust me, the upper control arm has a good 1.5" of caster adjustment. I hit the brakes hard once and folded the right front nearly into the fender because the upper control arm's adjustment bolts weren't tight.
 
Reply
Old Nov 23, 2014 | 10:22 PM
  #12  
Josh17's Avatar
Josh17
Thread Starter
|
Rookie
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
Default

I'll look into an alignment, but i do not think that my caster being out of spec would be the problem. The right front is sitting slightly further back than the left front. I guess they could change the specs to counteract this but i'd rather fix the problem the right way if it is indeed a bent control arm.
 

Last edited by Josh17; Nov 23, 2014 at 10:24 PM.
Reply
Old Nov 23, 2014 | 11:04 PM
  #13  
98DAKAZ's Avatar
98DAKAZ
Champion
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 4,895
Likes: 35
From: Gilbert, Arizona
Default

The top control arm can shift a lot on you the bottom no it has no adjustment at all I have remove them and seen how much they can get out of alignment. So it could be you just need an alignment done. Get a shop to look at it first before you freak out be warned if a shop see's you freaked out on this they may take advantage of this and give you a large estimate of work needing done. Any shop will take advantage of people freaking about anything they see you as an easy payday like most woman get taken by auto shops.
 
Reply
Old Nov 23, 2014 | 11:25 PM
  #14  
magnethead's Avatar
magnethead
Legend
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 8,058
Likes: 184
From: Fort Worth, TX
Default

Originally Posted by Josh17
I'll look into an alignment, but i do not think that my caster being out of spec would be the problem. The right front is sitting slightly further back than the left front. I guess they could change the specs to counteract this but i'd rather fix the problem the right way if it is indeed a bent control arm.
the caster controls how fore/aft the tire is in the fenderwell (It's technically the angle of the spindle, but that also effects the fore/aft placement). Like I said, there's easily 1.5" or so of play in it, so that's more than likely your issue.
 
Reply
Old Nov 24, 2014 | 09:27 PM
  #15  
Josh17's Avatar
Josh17
Thread Starter
|
Rookie
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
Default

I will definitely have it aligned when I get enough time away from work. And don't worry I'm not freaked out just thinking.
 
Reply
Old Nov 24, 2014 | 10:03 PM
  #16  
magnethead's Avatar
magnethead
Legend
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 8,058
Likes: 184
From: Fort Worth, TX
Default

Lucky Caster isn't a big tire wear. Unfortunately, if caster moved, camber and toe both likely did, which can cause excessive tire wear. With that said, it is possible to have a spec camber/toe adjustment and have caster way off in no-man's land.
 
Reply
Old Nov 25, 2014 | 07:34 PM
  #17  
Josh17's Avatar
Josh17
Thread Starter
|
Rookie
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 94
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
Default

Yep, just like I learned in my steering and suspension class, Caster is an indirect wearing angle. haha thanks for all the advice guys.
 
Reply


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:07 PM.