How to tell the chassis are bent?

[blue_leaf]

Looking at a car with some front end damage: lhs headlight cracked and guard damaged, bumper cracked, bonnet slightly bent, rhs front guard slightly misalligned (noticable only when someone tells you where to look). Cant really see the rails under next to the engine - too much stuff on top, car appears straight form fornt and back, pillars and rood ok. So was wondering if its possible to check if the chassis was bent?

Was thinking of trying driving a car and just looking at how it behaves but I assume that the wheels were not alligned after crash so it will be hard to tell what behaviour is due to chassis damage and which is due to un-alligned wheels... any suggestions?

PS the car is not a 240Z but actually nissan silvia s13.

Thank you in advance.

[ezzzzzzz]

On level ground, you can measure ride height at several locations side to side (assuming the tires are all the same and filled appropriately). Check the seams at the doors for irregular gapping. Also, see if the doors open and close properly. This isn't a sure way but may give you more insight into possible chassis tweaking. A few bucks at a frame shop will provide the answers you seek.

[Nigel1943]

You could also check the wheelbase measurement, ie the distance between the wheel centres on each side. Whilst this is not a 100% solution it does give you an indication if one front wheel has gone back or not, assuming the rear of the car is undamaged. If the measurements are considerably different [more than 10mm] also check that the castor rod isn't bent.

[wedgey]

hi

you could always take to a panel shop that has an chassis alignment

machine if you really want to find out the axact measurements

do not know how much they would charge but it would put your mind at ease

robert

[Walter Moore]

You could also check the wheelbase measurement, ie the distance between the wheel centres on each side. Whilst this is not a 100% solution it does give you an indication if one front wheel has gone back or not, assuming the rear of the car is undamaged. If the measurements are considerably different [more than 10mm] also check that the castor rod isn't bent.

If you can get a tape measure under the car, check the diagonal measurements in addition to the wheelbase measurement of each side. If the car measures the same side to side and across both diagonals there isn't much chance that the frame is bent too badly.

(Of course bent suspension parts can cause the measurements to be out of square, but you really want to know that those are ok as well.)

[=Enigma=]

I've got an image with all the dimensions you're looking for, but it's too big to post here. PM me if you want it.

[montoya_fan01]

hi

you could always take to a panel shop that has an chassis alignment

machine if you really want to find out the axact measurements

do not know how much they would charge but it would put your mind at ease

robert

If I was really interested in knowing the condition of the chassis, this is the only way I'd trust to confirm status of the car in question.