WTF is this shit? Possibly bent subframe?

[aysix]

My suspension is all sorts of fucked up guys. I need some serious help. My threads on the coilsovers are 20 threads apart from each other and have hella caster in the front. The rear drivers side threads are as high as they go and the passenger rear is down as low as they can go. The passenger side is STILL higher than the drivers side.

And here at the pics of the front wheels. The centering or caster in the wheel wells are soo off. The pass side seems to be fine but the wheel is much closer in to the driver.

Also, I have ST coils. WTF Is going on?





I have ordered new control arms with hope to take everything apart and reinstall everything.

[The_Auto_Tech]

You gotta have some seriously bent suspension parts for it to do that and it should be noticeable.

[aysix]

You gotta have some seriously bent suspension parts for it to do that and it should be noticeable.

As in control arms?

[TheSupervisor]

mine looked like that before i replaced the control arms. PO had hit a curb and bent it all to hell. even if the bushings are shot you shouldnt have that kind of clearance.



mine broke the subframe mount but a little welding fixed it right up. hope yours isnt too bad.

[aysix]

I'll get the wheel off and snap a few pics. I bought control arms although i'm not sure if they are the right ones. Bleh.

[TheSupervisor]

most likely its the control arms. subframe is pretty solid especially where the rear control arms mounts. did you hit something like a pothole?

[redneck truck]

Swaybar binding up?

[aysix]

I bought this car off someone last year. When i bought it it had a cracked oil pan and a popped tire on the passenger side(good side). There was no indication that the subframe was bent, and i replaced the sways with RS6 sways and installed ST coilovers. I probably have about 200 miles on this thing since i bought it july of last year.

Will try to take a closer look tomorrow when its light out.

Swaybar binding up?

Explain?!

Just to make things clear.


Drivers side is the problem. The PO popped the tire on the pass side.

[TheSupervisor]

Wouldnt a bound sway bar just cause it to squat and not come back or else only rebound one side? Anyway its probably a good idea to get it apart and see what all you need before you order any more parts. Definately put up some pics and we will try to help you pick out whats wrong. Especially focus on bushings and control arms since thats what holds caster/camber in place. Interestingly enough even tho my impact was on the passenger side my toe was way out of wack on the driver side when I put it on the alignment rack.

In my case I just bought a whole front end rebuild kit since the bushings were shot anyway but I still needed a tie rod since it was bent from impact.

[aysix]

[julex]

Look at camber adjustment tabs on the subframe, they should line up with frame tabs. If they are completely off, there is a chance that the frame is shifted altogether too. But I would blame control arms first, they are designed to bend before F.ing up subframe.

[aysix]

[julex]

Pics: Look at rear lower control arms, this is the one bending to hell when you hit somethings hard.

[Sl0w_S4]

Dont look to bad.

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk 4

[The_Auto_Tech]

That lower rear link looks bent to me. It's the first one to bend usually because it's curved. Like Julex said, the control arms are aluminum and will bend before the steel knuckles or steel subframe.

[TheSupervisor]

[Img]http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/09/17/uze5uty8.jpg[\img]

^this. I cant be 100% sure without looking at a good one but I dont think that should have any upward arc at all. Hopefully someone has one to look at. I can take a look at mine later tonight. Otherwise its not looking too bad. Could be a minor bend in combination with bad bushings.

Edit: I cant get the pic to post from my phone but its the third one from the bottom.

Edit 2: the second to last puc looks suspicious to me too. Maybe its just the pic but it just doesnt look right just looking at the casting lines. Compare it to the same arm on the ither side and see what it looks like

[aysix]

[TheSupervisor]

Looks bent to me. Like mentioned earlier the CAs are meant bend so it saves you the subframe work. I ordered the fcp front end rebuild set and for the money its worth getting because the cost of just lower CAs is pretty high from what I remember. I know meyle and one other company makes a set as well but they are around the 600 range. If your bushings are bad its probably worth doing the whole thing. Yiu wont regret it.

[aysix]

Looks bent to me. Like mentioned earlier the CAs are meant bend so it saves you the subframe work. I ordered the fcp front end rebuild set and for the money its worth getting because the cost of just lower CAs is pretty high from what I remember. I know meyle and one other company makes a set as well but they are around the 600 range. If your bushings are bad its probably worth doing the whole thing. Yiu wont regret it.

Ever hear of MTC control arms? They are the guys who make the timing belt tensioner (likely, ecs sells it in their kits)

[The_Auto_Tech]

Get the cheaper kit from fcp euro. Comes with everything. I just installed it on my all road and the quality is awesome. Comes with s4 tie rod ends and upgraded sway bar links.

[Vinchenzo51]

And FCP is only in Old Saybrook, its like half an hour drive. Call ahead and pay, he'll put the box aside for you for when you pick it up.

[ddillenger]

And FCP is only in Old Saybrook, its like half an hour drive. Call ahead and pay, he'll put the box aside for you for when you pick it up.

Quiet down and give me your car sir.

[TheSupervisor]

maybe he will trade straight across

[ddillenger]

maybe he will trade straight across

I'm not the OP. aysix just stole my avatar

[TheSupervisor]

lol oops. damn thieves

[ddillenger]

lol oops. damn thieves

It's ok. Everynight I go to his house and fuck with his alignment.

[julex]

I would not put FCP stuff into my car even if I was paid to do it. You can get the same stuff much cheaper at these chinese outlets alibaba. FCP just buys everything in china, marks up 300% and that's how they can offer the lifetime warranty as they know that most people won't bother exchanging the part, and these that will, will get bored after couple of times.

[aysix]

I would not put FCP stuff into my car even if I was paid to do it. You can get the same stuff much cheaper at these chinese outlets alibaba. FCP just buys everything in china, marks up 300% and that's how they can offer the lifetime warranty as they know that most people won't bother exchanging the part, and these that will, will get bored after couple of times.

I bought the MTC ones. ECS sells them for $500ish for the set if you peice the mtc kit but I found a vendor selling the same thing for $160 shipped everything included...lol. I made a stink about it in the b5 s4 section. I spent sick money on this car, more than I should have...so at this point MTC is looking good!

[The_Auto_Tech]

The MTC ones are fine. I'm sure all of the cheap Chinese control arms are the same. I bought the FCP ones for my allroad and they were good quality. Honestly, I bought a CX Racing control arm kit with hardware, tie rod ends, and sway bar links on eBay for 150 bucks shipped. Everything was nicely labeled and fit perfectly. As far as I know those control arms are still going strong 2 years later.

[aysix]

I changed the control arm with a used one to see if anything changed. The spacing is much more the way it should be. So, i think that my control arms are indeed beat. Cannot wait for these arms to come in so i can give this thing a nice overhaul.

[Regal to S4]

Is this the Caster adjustment for the tire to fender spacing?

[aysix]

Is this the Caster adjustment for the tire to fender spacing?

I don't think there is caster adjustment for these cars.

[Regal to S4]

I don't think there is caster adjustment for these cars.

Hmm, now I look at that picture again, it's just a bolt and nut lol. Someone mentioned in my posting that my caster may be off if not something bent so been trying to find out if there was adjustment for caster on the S4.

[A62TURBO]

I don't think there is caster adjustment for these cars.

x2

[TheSupervisor]

toe is the only thing adjustable on these cars unless you buy adjustable upper control arms. caster as far as i know is not adjustable at all.

[durfA4]

Camber or Caster is not adjustable.The pic is the pinch bolt, Camber and caster are adjusted by moving the subframe. The bolts are designed to allow slight adjustment, very few alignment shops will do this.

[aysix]

Camber or Caster is not adjustable.The pic is the pinch bolt, Camber and caster are adjusted by moving the subframe. The bolts are designed to allow slight adjustment, very few alignment shops will do this.

The local VW dealer charges $120 for an alignment. Think thats something they would do? Town fair charges a bit less, but i figure bringing it to a VW dealer would be better.

[A62TURBO]

Dan, I doubt an alignment will fix your problem. There is something definitely bent under there, even the upright might be slightly out of whack.

[aysix]

Dan, I doubt an alignment will fix your problem. There is something definitely bent under there, even the upright might be slightly out of whack.

I know, i swapped a lower control arm and it looks a lot better but not 100%. New control arms are gonna be in next week and i'll see whats up then.

[8520]

Rear is factory camber adjustable.