HELP: I broke something...can't figure it out what

[ScoobieDude]

Hey guys!

I've been a member here for some time now, but this is my first time posting. I'm from Canada and i've got a coupe quattro.

Early this winter i hit a curb with my rear wheel. It hit pretty hard and bent my rear left side. I'm not sure what it is that's damaged. The subframe looks fine, the control arm doesn't look like it's damaged and i don't think it's the tie rod. It's not the wheel because the whole hub is bent inwards. I've got some pictures if they're of any use. The tire is touching the tie rod end.

I'm just confused about what it could possibly be. Could the hub carrier be bent?

I would have thought that it's usually the control arm that gives first.

Anyways, here's some pictures...










Any ideas will be appreciated.

Thanks,
Zubaer

[caterpillar]

lower link are gone ,AND the wheelhub ,the pitarm are bend.rusty car underneath,puh!!

[slow2]

Unlucky at the very least you have knocked your bottom ball joint inwards causing the wheel to be out of camber, although it looks to far out to be this on its own,if you look closely at picture 2 it looks like you have managed to kink/bend your wishbone, also check mounting bracket on the sub frame where your track contol arm connects for cracks

[ScoobieDude]

What's a lower link? Is it the ball joint? I know all four ball joints need to be replaced on the car.

What's a pit arm?


Slow2 - I have checked the subframe and the subframe bolts to see if anything is bent or cracked. It looked fine.

wishbone is the same thing as control arm, right? I didn't notice any kink/bend in the wishbone but even if it is slightly bent there must be something else wrong too because the wheel went so far in that the tire is touching the tie rod end.

The wheel actually looks a lot better in those pictures, if you notice the tie bar i've opened it out to almost the maximum and it pushed the wheel out but the outer end of it is still touching the tire.

[Azman]

HAve you had the wheel off? If so what state is the wheel bearing and carrier in.
You could have trashed the bearing which will make the wheel sit off line. Also you could have bent the leg. The Ball joint has def been hammered back so I would free that off and replace it if you have the option too.
Another posibility is that you have bent the arm that comes off the hub carrier to the track arm. This possibly could have been bent towards the wheel and in conjunction with the ball joint has caused this move back.

I would suggest taking the lower assembly apart and comparing the offset of the track arm to the hub carrier on the other side. I do feel that that may be the culprit.

[ScoobieDude]

azman - hey, yes i have taken the wheel off and the disc but that's as far as i went. If the bearing is trashed the wheel wouldn't turn freely, right? The wheel still spins straight, i mean in it's new direction.

I actually posted here hoping someone would say the carrier is bent. I wasn't sure if that was possible but i think that is what it is. I'm trying to find parts and if i do, i think i will replace the whole back end, subframe, control arms carriers, hubs, and i would like to get new shocks with H&R springs. The old parts are pretty rusty!

I'll try removing everything this weekend and finding out what's wrong.

Thanks for the input!

[Azman]

Matey. It may just be more cost effective to get your bits (subframes etc - not dampers) shot blasted then powdercoated or something along those lines. Obviusly checking the state of anchor points first after this.

I said the bearing as it could possibly have moved in the carrier which is why you need to get the carrier off.
Check the arm against the opposing one and look at the alignment of the bearing in that carrier it may not be straing anymore, therefore the hub will not be straight and the CVjoint wont really show anything as it will still be doing what it is supposed to do.

Just what I think anyway but I may be wrong.

[BRY]

The area I have circled in red looks like it is squashed to me. If so, you have bent your subframe. I would try to find another one.

[urquattro-island]

hey

looks like a good kink in the subframe and a bang on your link arm. i woul take off the wheel and get a closer look. could be more small bends and you will not see this without taking a closer look.

[ScoobieDude]

Thanks for all the replies guys!

azman - That was the plan, to powdercoat all the new parts i will install, which is one reason i'd like to change as much as i can. It's just a matter of finding the parts here.

I've got a feeling it might be something like the bearing or the hub or carrier which is damaged.

BRY, urquattro-island - I see the bent you're pointing out, but i've been under the car from all angles and it doesn't look like subframe or control arm is bent out of shape. Even if they do have small kinks in them wouldn't an adjustment in the tie rod and ball joint compensate for small bends?

Would a small bend/kink like that explain why the tire is touching the tie rod?

I will try to open up the whole hub and carrier this weekend and see if can find something there.

I'm just trying to figure out what exactly is wrong before i actually buy the parts so i can know everything i'll need.

thanks again for all the input!

[BRY]

Take the wheels off both sides and take pictures of both sides.
You will see whats wrong then.
You may have bent more than one thing.

[panzerwagen]

Scoobiedude, word of advice....

The stamped metal control arms are no where as tough as you think.
In my experience I've seen these things bend , snap or crack (the usual thing).
And sometimes you can not see the damage until you completely take it off & inspect it. This in your problem would be an excellent thing to do. I myself had a weld split along the length of rears and trashed them in favor of "Meen Green" control arms which by happenstance are made in your homeland. Well made for rally use but some have found them to be excellent for everyday use (me included).

[ScoobieDude]

First of all thanks for the help!

Azman - You were right about the bearing having moved. The bolt for the axle in the centre of the hub was crooked too.

I replaced the whole hub carrier and hub and everything's good!!