QuestionHi! We haven't replaced the quarter(It's cosmetic and plastic),yet. We did replace the bent strut . Now, the strut spring is against the tower, there is a spring indention in the tower(a little). The Tire is slightly (1/4 in to 1/8 in)tilted in at the top, I have drove the car in this condtion (and other then the cosmetic stuff) this seems to be the only downfall. . . .I need to take it to a framing shop. However, Have you had any success stories with what you suggested? Which sounds like a lot of hard work with little hope, Especially for an ameatur!! THANK YOU, for you honest response, it was greatly appreciated!!
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How would you use or position a 1 ton port-a-power for (97 Saturn), a quarter panel collision that shoved the strut and tire in to the body of the car making it (the place you mount the strut too, from the trunk view there's the top metal piece and there's the bottom metal piece and there riveted together) gap about a fourth of an inch,at the most? -We've replaced the strut but the top of the tire rubs on the strut-. If you have any ideas or suggestions on this matter it would be greatly appreciated!!! -Seriously-
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Your car is REALLY screwed up if the strut tower is bent, you need professional help. If you have already replaced the quarter, you are in horrible trouble. You are totally beyond what the average DIY guy can perform. There are strut tower dimensions that have to be within +/- 3mm, and you are just guessing what it needs. I personally think you have more bent suspension components, the strut rubbing the top of the tire sounds like a bent strut, or a bent lower assembly. If the tower is in, the strut spring should be rubbing the body. Your suspension geometry is completely off. When the quarter was off, it needed the tower pulled with a frame machine.. I can't see the damage, and I don't know what to tell you about trying to porto power a strut back into place without damaging the other side. About my only other suggestion is to ream the strut mounting holes. If there is some sort of goofy plate up there, spot weld drill off the plate, ream mounting holes, weld it back into the new position. Good luck, you're gonna need it. Bill
AnswerOnce again, I can't see the damage, and you really need professional help. If you say the top of the tire is in, and you can see it, it's probably m0re like an inch. It's too much to cheat. You can't visually see an eighth or quarter inch. Along with the tower, everything in the vicinity of the tower is probably bent. Trunk floor, wheel house, strut tower, lower suspension mounting points, probably even the beam that goes from one side of the car to the other (behind the rear seat). This car must have been BLASTED to bend the strut tower. I still think you have more suspension damage othere than the strut, also. You are totally in over your head, and this car is going to wear rear tires off of itself every 5,000 miles. It either needs put on a frame rack and pulled, or additional suspension components replaced. Maybe both. It needs the suspension mounting points measured, and the rear body needs checked for squareness. Only a body shop can do these things. Porto-power the hell out of it if you want, but you will be horribly disapointed with the results. Just pay out the money, have it fixed right. Right now, you are just guessing what's wrong. Pumping out the strut tower may actually cause more harm than good, especially if the suspension is actually what is bent.
