Bent Rear Knuckle

[chadgigachad]

I seem to have bent my rear right knuckle, based on my alignment. I was looking at picking up a rear right knuckle and upper arm from a junkyard 370z. Part numbers seem to match. Any problems with this plan? I think if the 370z bushings are shot I can swap the bushings from my Nismo's bushings. The knuckle bushings aren't sold seperately and the only replacements are monoball.

 

[chadgigachad]

Alignment sheet

 

[OptionZero]

the parts will fit

however:
1) Used parts can be a crapshoot, depending on your source. Just the nature of the biz.
2) Swapping the arms is just bolting/unbolting; however swapping bushings requires a press. None of this is overly difficult, any shop can do it, it's just . . . gonna cost money.
3) If your used arm is bad you're gonna be doing this again
4) all of this will be cheaper than buying a new arm/knuckle

if I needed to replace a couple parts and get another alignment and i was gonna upgrade later anyways...

might as well buy adjustable stuff and coilovers

 

[KrackaC8]

Considering you're only 0.1 outside of spec...are you sure its really bent? Did you hit a bad pothole? Any visible damage?

There's always the chance of the alignment equipment slipping and giving a false reading... I wouldn't rush into buying new parts unless there is identifiable damage or a cause you can point to. A decent alignment shop should be able to find 0.1 degree by loosening and re-torquing bolts under pressure if you absolutely must see the square turn green.

 

[Drago86]

Any idea why they think it's the knuckle that's bent? Unless they saw damage to the knuckle, I would first suspect the factory links, especially the camber link which has a kink in it from the factory (I'm guessing it's there to preserve the knuckle/subframe if you kiss a curb? Could be for clearance also as the sway bar sits right above that kink....):

I would inspect the rear suspension before I went about ordering replacment parts.

 

[chadgigachad]

Any idea why they think it's the knuckle that's bent? Unless they saw damage to the knuckle, I would first suspect the factory links, especially the camber link which has a kink in it from the factory (I'm guessing it's there to preserve the knuckle/subframe if you kiss a curb? Could be for clearance also as the sway bar sits right above that kink....):

I would inspect the rear suspension before I went about ordering replacment parts.

I already replaced the rear toe arm. The old came out straight.

 

[chadgigachad]

Any idea why they think it's the knuckle that's bent? Unless they saw damage to the knuckle, I would first suspect the factory links, especially the camber link which has a kink in it from the factory (I'm guessing it's there to preserve the knuckle/subframe if you kiss a curb? Could be for clearance also as the sway bar sits right above that kink....):

I would inspect the rear suspension before I went about ordering replacment parts.

My friend with track experience said it was bent. Considering the difference between the left and right, I also agree that it's bent.

 

[thesilverbullet]

I would go back and see if he can get the left rear to match, -2+ degrees is where i would want to be…. and like krack said, +/- .1 degrees is noise.

 

[chadgigachad]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Z is at the dealership for a stuck lug nut, transmission fluid change, and alignment after installing my Nismo FUCAs. I'll see how the rear end looks after.

 

[VR30Infection]

I already replaced the rear toe arm. The old came out straight.

Toe arm? Your issue is the camber arm. It could also be an issue with the eccentric bolt. The knuckle is pretty beefy. I would do adjustable rear camber arms.

 

[OptionZero]

why bother doing one arm at a time

get the car up once and replace everything

 

[chadgigachad]

Toe arm? Your issue is the camber arm. It could also be an issue with the eccentric bolt. The knuckle is pretty beefy. I would do adjustable rear camber arms.

Sorry, I meant rear camber arm. Too many arms.