Bent frame or not?

[Turbo Terry]

My friend hit the curb/island in a runabout pretty hard recently with his 2016 Dodge. Rim bent tire shot took it to local dodge dealer. They said the wheel bearing was bad. Changed it out put the spare tire and rim on said front end needs realigned . Steering wheel is now clocked 90 degrees off . They say the frame could be bent . What advice do you guys have for him. . He needs help . Dealer got him for $1500 already.Thanks

 

[AEdelheit]

Find a better shop, if the frame bent from that it would be near the radius arm mount which would show instantly in alignment and likely wouldn't cause the steering wheel to be off, my guess is the track bar or draglink is bent.

It takes alot to bend the frames on these trucks and the axle would likely bend before the frame would.

 

[Hoefler]

Bent pitman arm on steering gear box

 

[Robbie Antonosn]

Is your buddies truck a 1500 or 2500/3500? If 1500 then it will have a steering rack, would it not? if Solid axle then something associated with
the steering box. I have seen sector shafts on Land Cruiser twist with out breaking creating a shift in the steering wheel. If steering rack, outer tie rods I have seen affect the steering that way, and worst case a trashed rack.
Terry, it would be a lot more helpful to tell us what the truck is besides just a 2016, more info is better.

 

[AEdelheit]

Is your buddies truck a 1500 or 2500/3500? If 1500 then it will have a steering rack, would it not? if Solid axle then something associated with
the steering box. I have seen sector shafts on Land Cruiser twist with out breaking creating a shift in the steering wheel. If steering rack, outer tie rods I have seen affect the steering that way, and worst case a trashed rack.
Terry, it would be a lot more helpful to tell us what the truck is besides just a 2016, more info is better.

Good point, I assumed it was a 25/3500 being on this form.

 

[Turbo Terry]

Sorry 1500

 

[Robbie Antonosn]

Well the short list of issues I would suspect before the frame, A Arm bushing or arms bent them selfs, Arm thru bolt, Ball joints, Outer tie rods,
Rack. I would expect any one of these items to be suspect before the frame.

When the steering wheel is straight, what do the tires look like viewed from the front? This may give a good clue.

I would agree with others, find a better shop.
Is this guy in Wasilla, Palmer or Anchorage or one of the other areas around? I would expect some good alignment shops in Anchorage, Eagle river, Wasilla areas over Palmer(but who knows, since Palmer has been around longer than either Anchorage and Wasilla).

Personally I would find a real good Alignment shop, because at the end of the day, the truck will need an alignment after the issue is found and repaired.

May want to get the work done in one place.

Hope you buddy get it done right.

 

[Turbo Terry]

Thanks guys. All info really helps

 

[Turbo Terry]

Truck needs ball joints. 60-70 k truck is 2500. $1070 total

 

[Turbo Terry]

Tire good rim bent. New wheel bearing

 

[Tuesdak]

Tire good rim bent. New wheel bearing

Tire is SCRAP!!! After an impact hard enough to bend a rim and screw up the front end: the internal belts could have broken. It's not worth the risk of a sudden tire failure later esp. with the damage they can do to the truck when they come apart.

 

[Turbo Terry]

We agree with that also but thanks for pointing that out. These were his winter tires and it’s spring so he will be changing o summer ties when he gets it out of the shop . At 70 k on both sets the winter tires will be replaced next fall problem solved.Thank You