Ok guys long story. I noticed my tires are wearing on the outside edge. thought I needed an alignment. So the first thing the guys do is raise the car, I though dam, need to get out of here quickly, but they did it, and I am glad they did. turns out I have play in my upper ball joints. So I abort the alignment, and begin to trouble shoot the ball joint issue. I installed a set of Carl's steal A arms in 2014, and I did that because I had movement in my ball joints prior as well. As those of you who have done that job know, it is one of the more challenging ones on these cars. I remember things did not seem quite right when I did the install. But things went back together, and the car came into alignment.

Ok cutting to the chase, I discovered my steering knuckles appear to be bent down..... I think I found my issue. A new set is on the way, but just wondering how common this is. I am fairly certain this has been an issue for quite some time as I had a vibration while driving since I had the car and never able to quite isolate it, but I am pretty sure this is my culprit. I brought this car back from the dead, and I do not know much about the history, but I do know my front springs were gonzo when I got the car, and the car was low for quite some time. I did drive it in that condition for several years. the bend probably has gotten much worse int he past couple of years.

Just wondering is this something that happens, obviously bending a steering knuckle does since I got it, but how often does this happen.

thanks

 

I'm not sure I've ever seen one bent in a car that wasn't hit hard. The upper control arm usually gives way first. You'll verify that the original is in fact bent when you get the new one.

 

Steering knuckles do bend in accidents but trying to tell whether they are bent and if so, by how much is nigh on impossible just by visible inspection unless of course it is grossly distorted. Alignment can hide damage to some extent but whether the remaining geometry works over the range of movement needed remains to be seen.

When I lost my S4 the hit was on the front passenger side- the front tyre remained inflated but the lower arm snapped. When recovering parts from the wreck I binned the upper arm [that looked ok] and the knuckle knowing there was no way I would use a component that had been through such trauma wherein structural integrity could not be assured.

 

Thanks Everyone. I do not think the car was ever in an accident. Just don't see any evidence of that at all. I will compare when I get the new replacements in. So as I thought, it is unusual for these to bend down.