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Me again 200

posted by  happyhighguy on  Thu Mar 4 14:17 CST 2004
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Hey there...

I just want to let you know my latest problem with the car!!! :)
(I'm humored by the whole thing, I thought others would get a kick out of it!)

I was driving down the muddy roads of vermont today..(10 inches of mud at spots....) And for the last few weeks my wheel was vibrating on left turns..so I knew something was up...I figured I didnt have much time left before something fell apart..SO I planned on fixing it this weekend, hoping the car would do me the favor of getting me another 2 days...But 20 minutes into my 40 minutes ride home, over roads that suck!! 10 inch grooves in the mud that were cause by buses, that suck you in and make you go that direction...
Well, in one of these canyons of car death, I felt and heard a sharp snap! Only to be followed by the sound of a tire, rubbing a fender...Thank God I was only going 15 miles an hour....in almost a foot of thick mud I have no control of my front wheel...So I picked a spot, on higher ground(where it was dry), and did my best to pull over...

Upon examining my car, I noticed my front left tired pushed far enough back, to be pushing against the wheel well...My strut snaped at the top ring under the hood, my coil spring is broken, and I see the ball of the ball joint and the hole it is supposed to be in about 5 inches higher than the ball...

at this point, I have jacked up the front of the car, and left it in the mud...(got dark and colder out..so I came home) I am thinking of trying to replace the strut assembly with something used, and replacing the ball joint with a new one, but I have no idea how much of a task this is...and if it would be more worth my while to have a mechanic take care of it...

any advice?! :) (other than stop driving!!)








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    Me again 200

    uid 18083's pic
    posted by  lucid on  Fri Mar 5 04:41 CST 2004
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    last visit: Fri Oct 24 12:31 CST 2014
    [RELATED]

    Regarding replacement of the strut assembly — if you do just the one, make sure it's from the same year as your car (or the other side). If you don't, you could end up with different (built-in) Castor settings on each side.

    I could be more specific about what (or what not) to get, but you didn't use the dropdown to give us your car's year, which can lead to confusing posts.
    --
    Bruce Young
    '93 940-NA (current) — 240s (one V8) — 140s — 122s — since '63.








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    Me again 200

    posted by  Five Bricks on  Fri Mar 5 01:54 CST 2004
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    last visit: Tue May 22 15:09 CST 2007
    [RELATED]

    You're a lucky man! You and others could have died or been seriously injured if this failure had occurred at high speed. Hitting a freeway pothole would have done the trick.

    I did this job two months ago, and replacing a strut assembly is not difficult, provided you get a complete replacement assembly with a good shock cartridge, hub, and wheel bearings, and provided there is no damage to:

    - the strut tower (especially the top where the strut is bolted)
    - front suspension control arm
    - brake lines or hoses

    Inspect each of these components VERY carefully. See if the control arm bushings are firm. Also, inspect the right-hand strut assembly for damage and wear. If the left was bad, the right may not be too far behind. I would advise you to replace all of your ball joints and tie rod ends while you're working on the car (very simple job). Inspect the tie rods themselves for excessive play.

    Folks, there's a lesson and a warning for us all in this story. Ignoring a bushing clunk for a few hundred miles is one thing, but do not ignore funny front end suspension sounds that occur only when turning. Bad ball joints, strut bearings, tie rod ends and tie rods can be killers
    --
    '88 240GL, '90 240DL, '91 240








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    Me again 200

    posted by  someone claiming to be twoforty on  Fri Mar 5 01:51 CST 2004 [RELATED]

    Sounds like you'll have to redo the left suspension (may as well do the right as well). To get back to home base (15 min. away....at 15MPH ?), get a ball joint and replace it (unless the A arm is damaged...get one from youor local bone yard). Once the tire is off the wheel well ...tow it home. Find a nice dry (ha ha ha....not in mud season) spot and spend the weekend rebuilding. FYI...I'm in SVT

    What year, model ?

    Al
    84, 242 GLTi, 167+K, 4+OD (awating spring); 89, 245 DL , 240+K, M47, daily driver; 93, 245 DL, 167+K, auto, new to fleet.







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