regarding front end alignment, specifically toe in/out: what exactly changes when you hit a pothole, or run off the road, etc?



tie rods and ends don't move, they are threaded with a lock nut. the steering rack and pinion are some serious-looking gears, it does not look like they would skip teeth.



ive never understood what in the steering system is able to get so screwed up and pulls the vehicle to one side.

 

Wear of damage. If you run into a into a big pothole and the toe is off then something got bent.

 

Camber is fairly easy to screw up, as you're holding the knuckle to the strut with slotted bolt holes. No other criteria can change significantly on a Tiburon's front end alignment without wear or damage.