Vp Strut Location Or Control Arm?

[androo44]

Hi, I have just purchased a vp 1 exec and after completing a few little jobs on vehicle I noticed the left front wheel seemed to be closer the rear of the vehicle than the d/side. I ran a tape measure between front and back wheels and there is 20mm difference between the passenger side and drivers side.
Looking at where the struts bolt up under bonnet, the nut "cap" is positioned differently as compared to that of the d/side. ie one is situated forward of the opening and the other is back of the opening, the opening being the big hole where the strut sits up to.
Can these be turned around in 3 diff positions, and would this change position of the wheel or is it more likely the control arm is bent even though there is no sign of damage?
Thanks in advance for reading.

[greenfoam]

The struts don't adjust the wheels forward and backwards, something is bent

[Boonz]

have you checked your strut rod bushes at the front of the chassis??? they might be hammered and need replacing as this drags the front wheels alot further forwards than worn bushes do

[kirkson]

Yep, i'm with boona, also I had a similar problem on a vn a few years ago a wheel alignment fixed the problem
regards kirk

[commy92]

easiest way is to get a wheel alignment, then they will tell you what is buggered.. that is if youcant work it out yourself.. lol

[androo44]

Thanks to all posts, I had a closer look and found the end whre the ball joint sits was twisted backwards 15mm, obviously had a hit and bent that small area before the radius rod begins.. had to visually see it from underneath, Picked up another control arm today and all is fitted and good. Now measures same as drivers side. So off to wheel aligners later in week and get the final adjustment made.
Thanks again.

[getafix]

what does the position of the nuts do then?

-dave

[MaN|aC]

take it for a wheel alignment, ask the person to have a good look underneath too see if anything is bent.

*edit I didn't read the op last post...
Another good tip is when buying second hand cars is too put your fingers in the wheel arch and count how many fingers that you can fit in both wheels if they are not the same its a good possibility something is bent.

[MaN|aC]

what does the position of the nuts do then?

-dave

it changes the castor.