Hey all -

Our 2010 Flex (AWD Ecoboost) got smacked in a parking lot on the RR wheel, knocked the toe out BAD, to the point where the steering wheel was cocked out about 30° going down the road and the car was behaving horribly. The toe issue was VERY obvious if you stood at the front of the car and looked back. It was only driven from the accident to home and from home to the shop.

I just got a call from the body shop saying all repair work is done. I was surprised when they told me all the rear needed was an alignment (outside of the body work, of course). I asked for the specs on the rear toe, and they said it was out 25°! Now, they're saying that it was just an alignment issue and that they were able to bring it back into spec with the adjusters, but I'm worried that something else is bent. 25° is a HUGE amount, and I can't see how it could be THAT off and nothing else is wrong. Yeah, they might have been able to bring it into spec, but could just mean it's masking the damage, not fixing it.

I called the alignment shop that typically does the work on this car, and the guy DEFINITELY thinks something else has to be up if it was off that much. I'm contemplating taking the vehicle to him and seeing how much adjustment is left in the system. If it's maxed out to get it back into spec, then something is definitely up.

Just looking to see if anyone here is a suspension guru and knows if 25° of toe adjustment is even possible with our system.

Mike

 

Sorry I can't offer a proper response, but you are correct to question this. Something must be bent to have it out so far, and using up all the adjustment to "fix" it is unacceptable. Look for bends, try to compare with another undamaged vehicle, check the mounting points for control arms etc.

I had a '65 Mustang that was "fixed" this way before I bought it. It was always ready to hit the ditch, wander or otherwise not handle or drive correctly.

 

Something is definitely bent

 

the adjustment did not loosen itself up and move when it got hit... SOMETHING had to bend or break. That part should have been replaced, not adjusted out.