Alignment help after sliding into ditch

[brianlh]

I accidentally did some impromptu offroading. I took it to a ford dealership for an alignment, and it seems I bent something. Ford refused to even attempt to adjust it, and recommended I go to a collision repair shop. So my question is this: Should I do that, or are there parts I can throw at it until it's able to be put in spec? I have a basic idea of the suspension parts, but I don't know if there's an order of operations to replacing them.

The car is lowered with the Steeda MagneRide Sport Lowering Springs.

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[ralph7]

Were you leaving a cars and coffee?

 

[brianlh]

Were you leaving a cars and coffee?

Just screwing around with some friends on an empty road. But yeah, I did the classic slide and then lift off mistake.

 

[ORRadtech]

Did Ford say which parts are bent?

Throwing parts at it could get pretty expensive pretty fast.

It seems to me that a mechanic or suspension shop would be your best, and probably most cost effective, way to go.

 

[brianlh]

Did Ford say which parts are bent?

Throwing parts at it could get pretty expensive pretty fast.

It seems to me that a mechanic or suspension shop would be your best, and probably most cost effective, way to go.

They wouldn't even look at it, full refusal. I was a bit surprised, it still drives perfectly straight besides wanting to go with every bump, which I assume is the toe. That's also the direction I was leaning as well. Hopefully I can just hand them the sheet and they'll know where to start.

 

[Mach VII]

Do you have the alignment sheet post-lowering and pre-off road excursion?

 

[brianlh]

Do you have the alignment sheet post-lowering and pre-off road excursion?

I don't, it went out the next time I cleaned out my car. Bad call, I know. I remember it all being in spec, besides front camber being about where it is now, just out of spec. I was going to get camber plates eventually.

 

[kz]

One option is to go another shop and ask for alignment without telling you went off road.

There is a chance that toe and camber links have slipped and no parts are bent. If anything is visibly bent, shop will tell you that.

 

[nngg4]

I accidentally did some impromptu offroading. I took it to a ford dealership for an alignment, and it seems I bent something. Ford refused to even attempt to adjust it, and recommended I go to a collision repair shop. So my question is this: Should I do that, or are there parts I can throw at it until it's able to be put in spec? I have a basic idea of the suspension parts, but I don't know if there's an order of operations to replacing them.

The car is lowered with the Steeda MagneRide Sport Lowering Springs.

Sport (lowering) springs typically increase negative camber. Extreme cross angles may indicate bent parts but I don't see that. Plus the thrust angle is in spec - another indication the chassis is probably alright. Take it to an independent shop for an alignment without mentioning the off roading. Re-adjust the toe and go from there. Probably all it needs. Do you have a "straight" alignment print out to compare this too?

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