Control arm.

[brandonmpace]

Ok basically earlier this year I nailed a curb with my front passenger side wheel, which made the camber +.8*
The guy who did my alignment the next day said he could only get that side to -.4* due to a bent lower control arm.

So my rears are -1.7 and fronts are -.4

He didn't say they could fix it and didn't recommend anyone.

I need to know where to take it to get a second opinion from someone that knows what they're doing and would not try to rip me off.

Thanks in advance!

[sammm]

Rogue at Miata Solutions. He's practically your neighbor.

[brandonmpace]

Rogue at Miata Solutions. He's practically your neighbor.

I already talked to him. He didn't get a good look at it but said it may not be bent.

[Rob®]

It didn't look bent when I checked it out either, assuming you're talking about the same incident.

[Electro]

If its not bent, could be a stripped cam bolt.

[ckearns]

If you haven't replaced all the alignment bolts, they're likely in need of replacing. Mazdaspeed has fantastic pricing on them (You've signed up with them, right? ) Get a full set of 8 and have them installed during your next alignment. The new ones are beefier than the stock bolts and are less prone to stretching.

Planet Miata has salvage LCA's for $75 and they've got a 25% off sale going for phone in orders. It's worth a phone call to chat with them about it at any rate (and do discuss bushings)

Bent control arms are a bear to isolate without swapping them out. The R&R itself is pretty straight forward. If it's not the LCA, there's a racers market for them, so they can be flipped for $$ recovery.

Chris

[MadMerv]

THe first thing that bends in that type of an impact is the upper a-arm rear bolt. It's about 12" long and becomes an "S' shape. Best way to tell is:
1. remove tire
2. loosen the nut on the rear bolt of the upper a-arm
3. try and turn the bolt with a wrench
If it binds, it is bent. The worst part of fixing this is getting the bent one out. I've always had to use a recip saw and cut it in pieces.