Hit a deer - wheel is off center

[jsean]

Can you go back to the salvage yard where you got the used fender and just pull the special tapered bolt? I'd imagine they would sell it for a buck or two instead of $28.

As long as the LCA is loaded to the same angle relative to sitting on the ground, tightening the bolts will be fine. You will need a wheel alignment afterwards, so that should resolve any minor discrepancies.

The salvage yard has 3 other Focuses and all them are crusty. I suspect a lot of them end up in yards up here because people don’t bother washing them frequently in the winter or undercoating them. This Gen Focus tends to rust real fast.

I just jacked the LCA up to a similar angle as it would if were it on the ground and got the bolts torqued to 85% of their factory spec because I have everything covered in anti seize.

 

[jsean]

Wanted to update this thread and it’s hopefully the final one. I found out after getting the front fixed, that the RR trailing arm also took a bit. The steel rim on that corner also got bent. Ford for whatever reason made the trailing arm specific to the 2008MY (common p/n for 2000-07 and a different common p/n for 2009-11). Of course, part is discontinued courtesy of Ford. Finally found a junkyard not terribly far that removed the trailing arm of an ‘08 on their lot - had to take it to a shop and get the trailing arm bushing changed out. Figured I change out all 3 control arms while I’m in there.

On a side note, I didn’t realize how expensive rims are getting at junkyards. $35 was the cheapest I could find for a steel rim. Oddly enough, 15” alloys on this thing as cheaper or same price than the 15” steelies!

All said, I’ve put about 300 miles on the Focus since the repairs and it’s been running great. Total cost for all the body parts, 4 control arms, used trailing arm + new bushing getting pressed, new used rim, tire swap and 4 wheel alignment is about $675. This thing would’ve been definitely totaled by the insurance co. Everything is covered back up in surface shield and the fasteners all got torqued to 85% FSM value due to generous amount of anti seize being applied.

Spot the difference on the trailing arm: