Track Control Link Arm

[kyle345]

Hey guys just rebuilding my R34 after it had a crash and ive came across a bent part not sure whats its actually called looks like a track control link arm.

Was very difficult to put in, had to use a prybar to stretch it to line up to the bolt holes. Thats the drivers side the reason im not sure if its meant to bent like that is because it looks like a manufactured bend, normally when parts bend they flake paint or crease, this has none of that.

The passengers side is dead straight though

[GTSBoy]

That bend doesn't look like it happened in a crash. By the same token, I've never seen a factory Nissan caster rod witha big curve in it like that.

Teh real question is, what is the length of that arm from front bolt centreline to the back bolt? If it's the same or very close to the length of the straight arm on the other side of the car, then it is a factory pre-bent arm to clear something or other on some car or other. If it is much shorter than the straight arm, then it has taken a big hit.

Either way, if the you have to pry it really hard to get it to fit up, then you are going to be pulling that wheel a looooong way forward in the wheel well, putting a lot of caster on that side, and a lot of strain into the upper and lower inner bushes on the suspension arms. Not good. Get it to a wheel alignment/chassis specialist (not a tyre shop!!!) and get it checked out. If there is residual lack-of-straightness in the front chassis then you will never get a good wheel alignment, tyre life or handling performance out of the car. Best to find out now I reckon. If you're in SA then I can recommend Stable Wheel Alignment in Pooraka. They are very good (they do this sort of work to get cars fixed up for crash repairers who cannot) although the main guy there is a pain in the arse to interact with sometimes (all the time!).

cheers

[kyle345]

Cheers, will measure up see if they are the same

[V28VX37]

Hey guys just rebuilding my R34 after it had a crash and ive came across a bent part not sure whats its actually called looks like a track control link arm.

...

Was very difficult to put in, had to use a prybar to stretch it to line up to the bolt holes. Thats the drivers side the reason im not sure if its meant to bent like that is because it looks like a manufactured bend, normally when parts bend they flake paint or crease, this has none of that.

The passengers side is dead straight though

...

That bend doesn't look like it happened in a crash. By the same token, I've never seen a factory Nissan caster rod witha big curve in it like that.

...

Nope - that's what the factory R34 caster/radius rod looks like on my GTT (bottom one):

My factory ones are bent similarly on both sides too (mirrored).

I have no idea why yours would be different on one side compared to the other?

[kyle345]

Hmm thats weird... Mines only a GT but i doubt that would make the difference.

You shouldnt need to use a pry bar to get them in? Should they just line up to the bolt holes straight up?

[GTSBoy]

Hmm thats weird... Mines only a GT but i doubt that would make the difference.

You shouldnt need to use a pry bar to get them in? Should they just line up to the bolt holes straight up?

You usually need to apply some force to fit them. I've never had to use a pry bar even when I've had my adjustables wound a bit shorter, but YMMV. As I said, get the car checked by a specialist if you're worried, especially given it's just back from the crashies.

[kyle345]

Nah we rebuilt it all ourself, cut the chassis rewelded the new front chassis on. Everything is in perfect alignment

[GTSBoy]

Yet you had to force the caster rod to bolt up. Maybe it's not perfect. Even crashies with jigs don't always get it right. Doesn't take much to shorten one side of a car in a crash.

[kyle345]

Well im assuming its perfect because everything else has bolted up and lined up perfectly no problems

[ichi-go]

Look and sounds normal

Are you sure it's not the sway bar doing its tricks? Hence why you were having difficulty on one side?

[xALmoN]

the 33 gtst caster arm is straight, i have them in my 34. and they fit, so no issues there.

[kyle345]

Weve measured both sides and they are the same length

If anything the bent one is actually slightly longer, so i have to assume thats how its meant to be, due to the evidence also provided above in one of the photos

[GTSBoy]

Someone must have put an R33 one in one one side after an earlier crash!

[kyle345]

Yep just looked at my mates 34 and his are both straight so it must be a 33 one in there