Bent Radius Arm?

[Sprite2]

How easy is it to bend a radius arm?

We've just bought a '93 Mini Sprite. An excellent solid car but we've just noticed the right rear wheel has far too much +ve camber i.e. it's top is much further out than the bottom.

I guess someone has side swiped a curb. Is this likely to be radius arm damage or sub-frame or shell?

Your thoughts on the subject would be most welcome.

[Sprite2]

Cheers for that.

I'm just in the process of making my own camber gauge in the style of the ones Minispares sell. I figured I should quantify the problem before proceeding. My guess is it's about +5 degrees.

There is some distortion to the subframe. The upper longitudinal part has a curve in it close to the body.

If it is the subframe I guess I can fix it with some camber adjustment brackets (I can do a frame change but I'd rather not).

If it's the arm will it be obvious? should the shafts at either end be in the same plane?

I'll go away and read your previous notes. I'll report back my measurements in a couple of days.

[Sprite2]

Ok, I've measured it with one wheel packed up so the car is level) and it's about +1.5 to +2.0 degrees. The left hand side is more or less dead on zero. Put another way the bottom of the wheel is about 7-10 mm further in than the top.

The haynes manual gives the spec. as 0 to +2.5 degrees so it 's within spec.

It's obviously less than ideal but I would have thought it's perfectly safe to drive.

What I think I'm going to do is order so Minispares adjustable brackets but fit them at my leisure.

As ever I'd welcome comments / suggestions / critiscm. etc.

Cheers.

[Sprite2]

Cheers for that Cooperman.

Good to know that it's within current tolerances. That's put my mind at rest.

I'm afraid to admit tha tI'm going to fit the fancy bracket. I don't have a welder that works at the moment and the car is my other half's daily driver and I just want to get it back on the road and get on with other things. Like your thinking on the budget approach though.