2003 350z performance model. lowered.
I am having issues with the drivers side control arm nut hitting the tire and causing blow outs. is it possible to have bent the steering knuckle? the nut on the passenger side control arm is about 1 inch from the tire, the drivers side is less than a 1/2 inch from touching. is there a way to tell if it has been bent or maybe the PO replaced it with the wrong one? I have tried different control arms with the same outcome, thats all I can think of is that it is bent. if I put the OEM shocks on there will that change it?

 

Post pics, yes it is possible but 1/2 inch of clearance won't cause a rub.

 

its at 1/2 inch or less, probably less. and the control arm nut has put a huge dent on the rim, bad enough for it not to hold the bead, I hammered it out and it held but about 3 months later the rim cracked in that exact spot. this issue is causing impact bruises on the tire which eventually blow out.

tires are 225/45/18- factory rims

here are pictures from the drivers side:

 

passenger side:

 

Yup, you bent the knuckle, but that is not what is hitting the tire. Bending the knuckle is cause by a huge impact and is real easy to do with improperly installed coilovers. Does your bump stop engage before the upper control arm hits the upper fender well? Doubt it, the UCA probably bottoms out and then the spindle takes the rest of the impact and bends.

 

what do you think is doing the damage to the tires?


I would bet money that this is the exact issue/problem. it had aftermarket adjustable UCA with a huge nut, that is what was doing the damage (IMO). the inner fender welds have been notched also.

do you think the right side/passenger side has correct measurments? Im headed to junk yard tomorrow to look for a used one. they have a 2004 350z and a 2004 G35, any other cars with the same part?

 

03 to 08 Z and all G35's except for the X model.

 

Can you elaborate? I'm in the middle of a suspension overhaul and want to dot my i's and cross t's. Im guessing its ride height related...?

 

It's related on how and when the bump stop engages. On a car with a bent knuckle, most likely the upper control arm bottomed out in the fender well prior to the bump stop on the shock slowing it down/or stopping it.

This is why you set travel with the adjustable body, and set ride height with spring preload.

 

Thanks!

(Sorry for the thread jack OP)

 

picked up a used knuckle from the junk yard today, WOW what a difference, a full inch of difference to be exact. now I will need to replace the passenger side since there is about a 1/2 inch difference in it and junk yard part, I suppose it has bent as well.

 

I measured to the wheel stud. you can see the bent one is 12inches the junkyard part is 13inches.

 

When they bend you gain camber, perfect for SCCA T2 or Spec Z before they allowed front camber arms. I think there are a few teams that are/were running bent knuckles.

 

Awesome, I have one to sell them!!!!!!