Tire rubs in turn-Bent control arm?

[brokex]

My wife picked up a replacement for her T-boned 2001 LeSabre a few weeks back---a really nice 2000 GP--actually for about half of what the insurance company settled for--but it had a couple issues. I've been lurking around the past couple weeks---thanks broken blower motor/resistor guys--never could have fixed that without you.

Here's the problem I'm workin on now--and for my first official post--I'm hoping the more suspension knowedgable can tell me if I'm on the right track? I searched away and didn't really find anything exactly like this.

When we back the car out of the driveway and turn the steering wheel full left, the drivers side tire rubs the wheel well and actually catches on it and the lower door trim thing as the wheel is straightened out. Sounds AWFUL!!!--and can't be good for the tire.

I'm wondering if the former owner smacked something and bent the control arm, causing this problem:

• Chip on drivers side wheel.
• Back bushing doesn't look 90 degrees to it's bracket, i.e bent back--ever so slightly. The passenger light looks perfectly square.
• I dropped a plum bob to the ground from the center of the lower ball joint and the center of one of the other joints on each side and the driver's side came out an 1/8 inch less than the passenger side.​
• The forward bushing--actually on drivers side and passenger side both has quite a bit of up and down play when I wiggle a pry bar in there.
  ​

The car drives fine at speed--maybe just the barest amount of skip or wobble at slow sharp turns. I think I"m on to the problem and would probably just order arms for both sides but before I shell out a Ben Franklin or two I was wondering what someone with some more expertise might think. Sorry for the long post:th_nervous:--pics attached.

 

[brokex]

Pictures.

Arm bent?--it's hard to see in the picture but it looks like it to me.

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg192/chamokaneman/528178859_1865168510_0.jpg

Left tire rubs, less gap than right tire.

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg192/chamokaneman/528174513_1865152193_506952731_1273.jpg

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg192/chamokaneman/528174115_1865150722_506952328_1273.jpg

I dropped a plumb bob down from the ball joints to another point on each side that should be symetrical, made pencil marks and mesured--1/8 inch less on drivers side.

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg192/chamokaneman/528178346_1865166597_0.jpg

Chipped wheel

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg192/chamokaneman/528177148_1865162094_0.jpg

Both sides are like this and wiggle up and down quite a bit when pried on. Should I replace them just for this?

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg192/chamokaneman/528177753_1865164350_0.jpg

 

[Biohazed]

looks like the previous owner def wacked something and you def look like a control arm issue

 

[brokex]

Thanks for the feedback. Can anybody check in on the up and down play in the front bushings on both sides?

 

[Silver GTP]

There should be no up and down play in that bushing that you could do by hand. That bushing should also be attached all the way around and not have the separation seen in your pic.

I have used a couple different brands of control arms in these cars and I've found MOOG to be the best fit. They look exactly like factory so my guess would be they made them for GM. Go to rockauto.com for the best price I have found on them. You'll also want to get new clips that go into the control arm to hold the abs wire loom. They don't like coming out in one piece.

 

[Biohazed]

there are also Aftermarket upgraded performance ones as well if you want one that is beefier. I think ZZP sells a set

 

[shawn]

I'm havn same knda issue too.. No rubbing but my right side has lil less of a gap than driver side...never been wrecked and not as bad as yours but really noticeable.. Can that jus b normal wear and tear ?? Mayb jus new cntrol arms will fix this problem ?

 

[brokex]

I guess the tiniest amount of the wrong angle on the inboard side can make a significant difference out at the outboard part where tire makes its arc turning. I'll definitely get one on order and find a good how-to thread for swapping a control arm. I don't think I've ever repaced that part.

 

[Silver GTP]

Real simple to change. Jack up both sides of the front end. Remove the abs wire from the clips on the control arm. Remove the sway bar end link (will probably need a new one). Take the nut off the ball joint (18mm iirc). Take the two bolts out of the control arm (18mm, 21mm and T-55 iirc). Remove and reinstall the new one. Make sure you torque the two bolts that tie into the cradle while the suspension is at ride height. Done. I can look up torque specs if you need them.