Toasted rack...?

[93redATX]

Just got my beater back from the frame shop, where it was getting the driver's side of the subframe pulled out and forward. The car nailed a curb @~70MPH eek! Anyway, I'll be taking it to a mechanic I know and trust probably Friday. My question is, how likely is the possibility the rack is screwed? Outer tie rods, control arms, strut rods, and struts & mounts are fine, but the wheel will grab and pull to either side very randomly. I'm guessing the rack is toast from taking such a hard hit, but I'm hoping if I don't acknowledge it, it won't be true In all seriousness, I will wait to see what the mechanic shows me while the car is up on the lift, but I'm hoping it's not the rack itself, and maybe it's just the inner tie rod ends.

One more question - if I do replace the rack, I'll be dropping the rear of the subframe. Where do you guys put the jackstands when you do this? Last time I had a car in the garage and was working with the subframe, I put the car up on stands about 2" back from the rear subframe bolts, but it bent the floor up(was a junker car, so I didn't really care) and I want to avoid that this time, for obvious reasons.

Thanks guys thumb

 

[BenSwanson]

I put mine at the sides where the sheet metal meets behind the subframe.

 

[SHODWN]

Andy, how it is if you drive normally? is this pull and **** under accerlation?

 

[93redATX]

SHODWN:
Andy, how it is if you drive normally? is this pull and **** under accerlation?

Nope, just whenever, no matter if I'm accelerating, braking, or just holding a steady speed. There aren't any other clunks or anything in the front end either (as if the subframe were moving around), and the steering is actually pretty tight other than the random jerking to one direction or another shrug I haven't found any problems with the suspension on either sides, with exception of the strut bearings making noise.

 

[BenSwanson]

That is exactly what my car was doing and when i took off the inner tie rods the seals fell out with all fluid, replaced the rack

 

[93redATX]

Well, it would make sense if the rack was shot, considering the forces that would have been transferred to the rack from the curb. My guess is when I pull it apart to get to the inner tie rods, it will probably fall apart frown

 

[93redATX]

UPDATE:

Today I adjusted the outer tie rod (again) to at least make the tires sit straight ahead. They were like this --> \---|

I had adjusted the tie rods prior to taking the car to the frame shop, but when I got the car back, the wheels were like my illustration above. Anyway, after I readjusted the tie rod and took the car for a ride, the jerking problem is gone shrug I was pulling and pushing on all of the front suspension/steering parts while the car was up in the air, and nothing was loose.

I think it's strange the problem would disappear, then again, with the tires sitting the way they were, maybe the tires were hopping along the road, and when they came into contact with the pavement, that's when the car would pull to one side or another, and would explain why it was so random.