P500 Possible big trouble

[JACKAL]

At this point I am not sure about anything. The picture does make it look like the toe is a little out, but in person I didn't notice that. I am guessing that since the steering wheel is now off that something is bent, just can't see what is actually bent. Everything looks straight. I am going to try and clean it up some more this evening and wash it well. Maybe something will show.

To be honest, I can't say 100% that the steering wheel was square to begin with, I just got paranoid after seeing the dent in the frame and now looking at everything. I will try to get some more pictures as well.

Would a hard hit to the front be able to mess the alignment up. I assume that when I hit the rock that it slammed the front wheels pretty hard as well. May have even been something else, the trail was nothing but rocks and we rode the creek beds forever. Rocks everywhere under the water.

I will have to say, this thing is a tank for taking the abuse, and I will not be going on that trail ever again. Climbs like a beast also!

Did you check the tie rods and see if one or both are bent? They are the weak link made to bend in a hard hit vs. A arms or frame.

 

[Russ989]

At this point I am not sure about anything. The picture does make it look like the toe is a little out, but in person I didn't notice that. I am guessing that since the steering wheel is now off that something is bent, just can't see what is actually bent. Everything looks straight. I am going to try and clean it up some more this evening and wash it well. Maybe something will show.

To be honest, I can't say 100% that the steering wheel was square to begin with, I just got paranoid after seeing the dent in the frame and now looking at everything. I will try to get some more pictures as well.

Would a hard hit to the front be able to mess the alignment up. I assume that when I hit the rock that it slammed the front wheels pretty hard as well. May have even been something else, the trail was nothing but rocks and we rode the creek beds forever. Rocks everywhere under the water.

I will have to say, this thing is a tank for taking the abuse, and I will not be going on that trail ever again. Climbs like a beast also!

It doesn’t look like a toe in/out problem to me, more like positive camber on the drivers side. Keep in mind that front skid is attached to the frame and when it changed shape it started putting some pressure on the front of your frame. Kinda hard to tell from the pics but that’s what I see.

 

[bobbybog]

It doesn’t look like a toe in/out problem to me, more like positive camber on the drivers side. Keep in mind that front skid is attached to the frame and when it changed shape it started putting some pressure on the front of your frame. Kinda hard to tell from the pics but that’s what I see.

So how do I correct this? Can this be adjusted or is something just bent?


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[bobbybog]

Did you check the tie rods and see if one or both are bent? They are the weak link made to bend in a hard hit vs. A arms or frame.

View attachment 72337

I will check the tie rods. Do I have to remove them to see? I haven’t pulled anything yet. Was hoping I could adjust something to correct the issues.


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[Russ989]

I will check the tie rods. Do I have to remove them to see? I haven’t pulled anything yet. Was hoping I could adjust something to correct the issues.


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This is a long shot without seeing it in person but follow me for a second. It’s possible when your front skid took the hit it pulled the front of the frame in a touch. If this happened it could have created negative camber on the bottom and positive on the top. This is possible since your lower arm is connected to that portion of the frame. Not sure that’s what it is but it’s somewhere to start. Like I said in an earlier post, put the p5 on jack stands and start measuring.

 

[bobbybog]

This is a long shot without seeing it in person but follow me for a second. It’s possible when your front skid took the hit it pulled the front of the frame in a touch. If this happened it could have created negative camber on the bottom and positive on the top. This is possible since your lower arm is connected to that portion of the frame. Not sure that’s what it is but it’s somewhere to start. Like I said in an earlier post, put the p5 on jack stands and start measuring.

I will gladly start measuring. Can you give me some insight as to what I should be measuring and how to go about measuring?

 

[TeamCheap]

This sort of makes me want to go measure mine up before I really get out there on it so I have a baseline set of measurements.

Yes I do believe that's what I'll do when I get a chance.

 

[bobbybog]

Can anyone give me some instruction on how to measure? I am assuming your meaning measure the frame to make sure it is all square, but I am not really sure how to go about doing that.

 

[LandPioneer]

Check it over real good. If you can't find anything re-align and go. I tore one of the top a-arm mounts from the frame on mine. I re-welded, re-aligned, and haven't had a problem since.

 

[Dragon21]

I agree with checking the tie rods. sounds a lot like what happens when one of them bends

 

[Russ989]

I will gladly start measuring. Can you give me some insight as to what I should be measuring and how to go about measuring?

When you put it on jack stands, make sure they are behind your front wheels, then measure from the floor to the bottom of the front of the frame to make sure it’s level and then measure from the frame to the inside lip where your wheel and tire come together. Check your tie-rod as well.

 

[Gem99Ultra]

I agree with checking the tie rods. sounds a lot like what happens when one of them bends

Absolutely. I've bent tie rods before with the same results he's seeing. Straightening one is next to impossible. IMHO, I'd simply buy another one to replace the bent one.

 

[Gator]

Although your photo looks like you have more Camber than Toe, I'm with @JACKAL and @Gem99Ultra .
Check your tie-rod. Check the jam nut on the tie-rod. Some of us found them to be lose from the factory.
Set the steering wheel back straight (like it was before the impact) then look at the wheels.

 

[bobbybog]

Thanks for all the help everyone. It ended up being a bent tie rod. Replaced and all is now straight again. These things really are like tanks!


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[Deleted member 3748]

Glad you got it fixed. I read through all of this to make sure I didn't repeat what someone already said. My steering wheel has been off center since day 1. I just ignore it.

 

[bobbybog]

Yeah, even after replacing tie rod the steering wheel was still off a little. Just pop off cap and remove bolt. Realign the steering wheel and tighten back. All straight now.


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[NTCPrezJB]

Glad to hear it was something replaceable rather than a tweaked frame.

 

[hondabob]

Check the upper A-arms for damage just outboard of the shocks. They may be bent slightly or cracked. Measure from axle to axle on both sides. They should be the same, compare it with a new one.

 

[JACKAL]

Absolutely. I've bent tie rods before with the same results he's seeing. Straightening one is next to impossible. IMHO, I'd simply buy another one to replace the bent one.

Really?