Help, what is a collapse strut?

[yeuporsch]

I hate to bother you guys, but you guys are so knowledgeable. I don't trust any other site. I have a non Porsche beater car that I just replaced the steering rack, new starter, and fixed a crack manifold. The car is front wheel drive. I took the car in for an alignment; now the shop call me stating that the car cannot be aligned due to a collapse strut. I had replaced the inner shocks in the front recently. What is a collapse strut?

Please answer soon' I am going there in the next hour.

Thanks,

John

[buster73]

Sounds like one of the struts is deformed and too far out of spec to get the alignment right. If thats the case you better check if the strut is damaged beyond repair. Might be possible to fix it or get a replacement from a salvage yard. If it is not too far off, you might get away with changing the alignment on both sides so they are out of specs but probably still drivable (should be the same setting on both wheels though). Check racing specs for your car to see whats a proper range for the alignment. Factory settings are pretty conservative most of the time.