Hey guys, a couple months back I was driving in the snow and accidentally slid into a curb at about 5mph. The front right wheel was turned and took all of the impact on the lip. I hopped out and just saw a large curb mark. The car seemed to drive just as before so I really didn't think anything of it. I did however notice that there was a very very slight vibration in the steering wheel, almost like a very small back and forth tugging motion in the wheel, going through long left hand corners at higher speeds, sometimes I honestly don't even notice it. You can't even see the wheel move. But when I drive straight or go through right hand corners the feeling isn't there. I never put 2 and 2 together that the control arms are aluminum and that I could have actually bent one of them. I recently rotated my tires and the feeling continued so I know it isn't like an unbalanced wheels or something. I see that that place down in Florida on eBay has used control arms for about 120, I don't even want to look how much a new one would cost. You think that would be worth it? It isn't horrible but I don't want it to lead to something bigger and more expensive down the road. Let me know what you guys would do. Thanks, Brian

 

You should put the EVO on a lift & give it a visual

Have the alignment checked & re-set. If the LCA is tweaked, for sure, have it replaced. Check the FS sections. There is, at times, a LCA for sale

Have the wheel checked for out of round & balance as well

 

Alright man that is definitely something I am going to do soon. I will Jack it up and have a look when I get home today and also see about taking it to an alignment shop soon. I guess I could take some measurements and compare the control arms with like a ruler or something. Maybe that will give me an idea of what is going on. Thanks for your help! Just when I am about to buy turbo parts this comes to a head! It is always something haha

 

bent control arm wouldn't really cause a vibration. My guess is you picked up a couple of bent wheels through the winter..

 

I'd agree this sounds more likely than a bent LCA. Either way getting it on a rack is definitely the right move. If it was a bent LCA, depending on which way it got dinged the Toe on the wheel should be too far + or -.

 

I think your tie rod will bent first before it does anything to your control arm. If your control arm is indeed damaged, your tie rod is likely damaged too.

In any case, I have a set of used control arms with Whiteline inner bushings if you do need them.