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 , plenty of pics

 

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:

 

here is the passenger side:

 

OP do you feel something weird when turning hard with that bent knuckle?

 

Seems like the knuckle is bent, I bent one of mine. The perfect way to add camber and not take points in NASA .