Bent Frame - How is it fixed?

[robinasu]

Hello all,

 

My father hit a curb with the back left wheel going 45mph well before my last alignment. The tire hit the curb square and popped. In the process I think he bent the frame of the vehicle.

 

The distance from the top of the tire to the left fender is two inches longer than the right... You can see it from the rear of the car.

 

The rear left portion of the frame is tweaked upwards.

 

Anyway, the car was aligned fine before crappy Wheel Jerks recommended an alignment. I knew I should have said no. The bottom line is I had to take the truck back 4 times because they couldn't get it right. It was great before they touched it. My previous dealer must have been able to deal with the bent frame.

 

So, I was driving out of my complex the other day and I hear a bolt and shims hit the ground. On the left side, the front A-arm spindle bolt fell off.

 

The tip of the bolt was stripped! To get the car to go straight Wheel Jerks had to use more shims than spec's and either ( a ) over-tightened the bolt during the work or ( b ) added too many shims, which did not allow the stock length bolt to engage the threads in the frame completely. I have a feeling ( b ) existed and they just over tightened the bolt. ..very frustrating. Don't ever go to wheel works, they are horrible. Two friends have bad experiences with them as well.

 

Questions:

 

1. How do you repair the threads in the frame? Should I drill it out and bolt it with a longer bolt and new nut? (not sure this is possible)

 

2. Do you know the ball park $$$ to have a frame straightened? How do they actually fix the frame? Is it like in a body shop with chains, etc?

 

Any advice would be great. Thanks!

[Earth1]

Rough times, ouch. Don't know about the bent frame, but I just had a similar issue with a spindle bolt into the frame. I found a tap at local metric bolt store, and that cleand up the hole real well. If the hole is really stripped, some people here sugested I try a helicoil insert. Here's a couple of links from advise I got.

http://www.nissanpathfinders.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=4007&hl=

http://www.nissanoffroad.net/messageboard/...?TOPIC_ID=15780

88 posted the bolts specs on the second one. Good luck with that.

[88pathoffroad]

It'd be really hard to bend the whole frame by simply banging a wheel into a curb, I think your rear axle control arm bushings may be shot, control arms or something else is wrong with it.

 

If the bolt itself is the only thing that stripped out, you can get a new set of bolts for it, if you can find them. They're 14mm x 1.5 x 50mm stock, going up to a 14 x 1.5 x 60 would solve your problems. I found mine at a local farm supply store, of all places. You might try looking at a couple of those.

[k9sar]

DO NOT try to straighten your frame by chaining it to a light-post and driving away fast. bad things could happen.

[lgranch]

I again find myself in the position of agreeing with 88. Bending a good frame by hitting a curb with a tire is very unlikely. So now for the questions.

1) the frame is good correct? It does not have the classic rot out ? If the frame is rotten then all previous statements are void.

2) The 4 link system for axle is prone to bushing failure. Bushing failure causes the rear axle to be out of line and frequently manifests itself as a truck that wanders on the road. Every bump causes the pathy to jump to one side or the other. Even acceleration will cause the pathy to dive for the edge or center of the road. This is the most likely damage from hitting a curb. You can not tell just by looking at the bushings.

 

So I suggest that you fix the front end per the recommendation already given and then replace the 4 bushings in the rear suspension. (this is a 4X pathy not a rare 2X model correct) These bushing are expensive and a real pain to replace. Based on my experience replacing these bushings I suggest to pony up the real big bucks and buy the Nissan parts. The polyurethane bushings available do not fit 90 to 95 pathys well and require minor modification. Once the poly bushings are installed everything is ok about them, its just getting them in the control links thats the problem.

[Mookie]

Can't really add much more. I'm also thinking that a close inspection of the rear linkage and bushings is in order.

 

Have you tried some measurements on the frame comparing it to the other side?

[Slick]

DO NOT try to straighten your frame by chaining it to a light-post and driving away fast. bad things could happen.

sssh Hmm... last time I tried that... the post came out before the dent......just another sector of redneck entertainment I guess.... LOL -alcohol-

[Mr. Pickles]

Can't help on the frame question, but I had the same with the bolt on the A-arm after an alignment at (the lying thieves) Les Schwab. Biggest sons-of-*%#... anyways. Took it to a local guy, and he used a helicoil and new bolt. Wham bam, quick and reasonable. I've driven on it over a year and have wheeled, "accidentally" jumped, etc. with no ill effects so far.