I know that wheel alignment goes out of spec after bushings, tie-rods, ball joints and other suspension components wear out and they have more and more play in them but what I am wondering is what causes the alignment to change after hitting a pothole? If nothing is bent, the adjustement of the tie rod doesn't actually move after hitting the pot hole right? So if the tie rods stay locked to the previous position when the wheel alignment was fine, what causes it to change after hitting a pothole?
What causes alignment to go out of spec?
- Thread starter johnnyh55
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If nothing is bent, broken, jarred loose, or knocked out of adjustment then nothing would change after hitting a pot hole. In other words in order for the alignment to go out, something in the front end has to change.
Sometimes a bushing can be bound up after and alignment and when you hit the pot hole it gets knocked loose. This is more common on alignment settings at the far end of specs but can happen to any unit.
Alternatively, you can hit a pot hole hard enough that the bushing temporarily deforms and then becomes bound up. Bolts will also slip a bit with the high point loads from pot holes and other factors.
Originally Posted By: demarpaint
If nothing is bent, broken, jarred loose, or knocked out of adjustment then nothing would change after hitting a pot hole. In other words in order for the alignment to go out, something in the front end has to change.
Originally Posted By: johnnyh55
I know that wheel alignment goes out of spec after bushings, tie-rods, ball joints and other suspension components wear out and they have more and more play in them but what I am wondering is what causes the alignment to change after hitting a pothole? If nothing is bent, the adjustement of the tie rod doesn't actually move after hitting the pot hole right? So if the tie rods stay locked to the previous position when the wheel alignment was fine, what causes it to change after hitting a pothole?
Originally Posted By: jjjxlr8
How would you know that "nothing is bent?" Slightly bent components are difficult to detect., except with alignment rigs. There can also be measurement errors caused by the tech setting up the equipment that could be causing the change.
We were on our honeymoon, 4yrs after getting married. "66 Bug. In Utah on I 80 we hit a dollop of asphalt about 3" high going 60. It bent <span style="font-style: italic">something</span> and knocked the toe out. Badly enough to see shreds of rubber when we stopped for gas. It was re-aligned by adjusting the tie rods. Between the 4 ends, there is wide range of adjustment.
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Just a new car "settling" in from welding stresses can go out. It can constantly pop in and out if it was not jigged right. Many mac struts don't have brake reaction rods so, you can slam on a brake and put the toe out of spec. The lower swing arm bushings can be very compliant. Garbage mac strut bolted to floppy sheet metal.
Ackermann steering geo is not great, IMO.
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Those darn potholes in Michigan will do it,, or the railroad tracks..imho
If you hit a pothole and it knocks the alignment out something did get bent. Don't take much.
On a Renault Megane, I had a shorter distance between front and rear wheels on one side of the vehicle. I don’t know if it was a pothole or the rear-ended crash I’ve been involved in, but after changing 4 corners arms, it stayed the same. Bent body?
I've discovered that alignment issues suddenly occur after lending my cars out.
Originally Posted By: johnnyh55
Originally Posted By: jjjxlr8
How would you know that "nothing is bent?" Slightly bent components are difficult to detect., except with alignment rigs. There can also be measurement errors caused by the tech setting up the equipment that could be causing the change.
What causes alignment to go out of spec?
Driving.
Originally Posted By: Reddy45
What about alignment cams used on control arms?
Nick1994
$100 site donor 2023
If your alignment has changed then something is either worn out or bent. Getting an alignment will mask the problem. It can be almost impossible to see a bent part, so sometimes an alignment is all you can do.
Hitting a pot hole isn't going to turn the adjusting collars on your tie rods.
Originally Posted By: jjjxlr8
Originally Posted By: demarpaint
If nothing is bent, broken, jarred loose, or knocked out of adjustment then nothing would change after hitting a pot hole. In other words in order for the alignment to go out, something in the front end has to change.
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