Wheel leaning after control arm replacement?

[tomahawk297]

Alright so I just got done replacing all of the control arms, TR end, CV axle, and sway bar end link on the driver side. After I put the wheel back on and dropped it to the ground as I was getting ready to jack the other side up and get started on it I noticed the side I just finished leans outwards pretty bad. I made sure to measure the tie rod end and put everything all back as it was and torqued to spec. Took my sweet ass time to make sure I did it as well as I could, I don't think I messed up! Do I just need an alignment? It just looks worse than I thought it would for just needing an alignment. Thanks in advance!

[konarider94]

yes you need an alignment now. The parts are going to have small differences in dimensions that mess everything up.

[tomahawk297]

Thanks for the reply, once I finish the passenger side I'm going straight to get an alignment. Looks like it would really SHRED my tires with the lean it's got right now. Good news is I hear no more squeaking and creeking when I bounce the driver side up and down! Feels a lot more solid also.

[Audibot]

Yes, definitely need an alignment, as you've completely changed the geometry when you removed all those pieces. Afterwards, you should be great. Hopefully the shop is close.

[tomahawk297]

A few miles is all, I'll drive slow lol.

[mtroxel]

I noticed the side I just finished leans outwards pretty bad. I made sure to measure the tie rod end and put everything all back as it was and torqued to spec.

What does "leans outward" mean? Does the top of the wheel lean out? Boy if that's pretty obvious, I'm not sure it's just an alignment issue. And if your tie rods were off by a mile, it would affect the toe, not the camber.

[Audibot]

What does "leans outward" mean? Does the top of the wheel lean out? Boy if that's pretty obvious, I'm not sure it's just an alignment issue. And if your tie rods were off by a mile, it would affect the toe, not the camber.

Alignment should fix some, if not all of that. Anything beyond that will be charged.

OP, just to make sure--you didn't accidentally confuse which upper control arm goes where, did you?

[tomahawk297]

Absolutely not, I did one at a time to be sure of this and made sure the new one matched the old one exactly.

[tomahawk297]

Just realized I meant the bottom of the wheel faces outward not the top of the wheel.

[Audibot]

Important distinction. That's probably fine for now and will get straightened out at alignment. You should have some slight negative camber when all is said and done.

[tomahawk297]

Thanks for the replies and reassurance, now I can rest well tonight!

[Theiceman]

I hope you are torquing.with weight on the car.

[RakkCity]

I hope you are torquing.with weight on the car.

Made this mistake with poly bushings in my 96 Cobra, freakin thing sounded like a 50 year old truck any time I hit a bump or anything. That creaking noise will haunt me till I die.