Bent lower front suspension studs

[Runningwild]

I have a very early 68 S2. The right front lower suspension must have taken a hit sometime as they are bent about 1/4".  I can heat the studs to bend them to the correct setting but should I weld in a bracket as in the second picture?  Any thoughts or ideas.   Thanks. Tom

[LotusJoe]

You leave it and use adjustable lower wishbones.

[Runningwild]

I have the S1 type front suspension with the rear A-arm inside by the shock. Would the units you pictured work and where did you get them?

[Runningwild]

My front suspension

[LotusJoe]

Here is the upper arm for the S-1

These are from Banks Europa. About $340.00 for a front set.

[Runningwild]

I'd like to keep my original A-arms as I've already installed poly bushings. I'll still heat and move the one stud that's bent. Just wondering how to strengthen it after bending. Thanks

[jbcollier]

I am not a metallurgist but I'd be inclined to just use a close fitting piece of pipe and tweak it back in place.  It's not high-zoot steel and a 1/4" is not far to go.  It's almost impossible to heat and cool it properly while it is attached to the frame.

Are the arms still ok?  There are designed to bend first.

[Runningwild]

It's the front lower suspension stud that's attached to the frame. I'm just wondering if after I heat and straitened it-should I weld in any type of brace to help strengthen it?   A arms are all repaired and new poly bushings installed. That's why I don't want to put new adjustable ones on. 

[BDA]

I don't think you'll need it. That bolt is in a double shear are the A-arm pivots. I don't think putting a brace in the middle will do a whole lot, but it wouldn't hurt to beef it up a little if it would make you more comfortable.

[jbcollier]

Check the arms carefully against the specs listed in the manual.  Very, very unusual to tweak the frame without also bending the a-arms.

[BDA]

I agree and I might go further, John. If it was hit hard enough to bend the wishbone stud, there might be some misalignment in the frame cross piece. Measuring the position of the suspension pickup points would probably be a good idea - especially if you plan on using the stock A-arms.

[EuropaTC]

If the pin was bent before your ownership one scenario is that the previous owner clipped it and as John says, the wishbones are usually first to go.  So the guy may have seen the bent wishbone, replaced it with new and then bolted it all back together without looking harder.  Although the pin looks a bit out, but nothing that couldn't be "solved" by a length of pipe over the spanner pulling the damper and lower swivel bolts together......   

Personally I'd just warm it up and straighten it. Although it was successfully bent out of alignment at ambient temperatures I'd run some spare nuts to protect the thread then use heat because if you need a couple of tries to get it aligned you won't be putting cold working into the structure.   

[Runningwild]

Thanks guys. The front end was rebuilt by the previous owner but never run on the road. I'm doing a frame off restoration and will heat and straitened the stud. Arms look fine.  Tom