So Bad, and then So Fixable

"JohnnyWasASchoolBoy" (JohnnyWasASchoolBoy) 05/27/2020 at 11:29 • Filed to: None

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So, the combination of placing a lot of demands on your vehicle (my truck is used as a truck for all manner of truck-things), winter roads that are treated with all manner of de-icing products, and a lack of attention to things that you don’t always think about, can cause some significant problems.

We got lucky;

1. This happened in our driveway as my wife was backing out. If this had happened at highway speed... I shudder to think of the consequences.

2. It look worse that it is. Four sheared bolts. No bent control arms or tie rods, the frame didn’t hit the ground, the brake rotor and suspension bits didn’t hit the ground, all lines are intact. Just four bolts and some (hopefully) easy repairs to the inner fender and replace some bumper clips.

I’ll replace the bolts tomorrow, get the truck to an alignment shop Friday morning, and be back on the road Friday afternoon.

VincentMalamute-Kim > JohnnyWasASchoolBoy 05/27/2020 at 13:41

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Rust on the components don’t look that bad. The bolts don’t look that bad. I wonder if it’s something other than rust?

I see cars on the side of the freeway with the same ‘oops, I’m tired’ position of the wheel. Apparently, the car i s still controllable at highway speed when the lower control arm lets go?

This is what we'll show whenever you publish anything on Kinja: > JohnnyWasASchoolBoy 05/27/2020 at 14:02

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JohnnyWasASchoolBoy > VincentMalamute-Kim 05/27/2020 at 14:13

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I suspect I’ve been driving on less than four blots for a while. The truck had developed a pull to the right, and every now and then I’d hear a clank from the front end when I made sharp turns over bumps and curbs. It never occurred to me that I may have lost a bolt or two. I suspect that rust got the first ones and they just disappeared. The two I have in the picture are the only two remaining. 

WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI > JohnnyWasASchoolBoy 05/27/2020 at 15:17

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There are better ways to stance your car, but you do you.

pip bip - choose Corrour > JohnnyWasASchoolBoy 05/28/2020 at 05:50

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doing the other side for peace of mind?

JohnnyWasASchoolBoy > pip bip - choose Corrour 05/28/2020 at 11:31

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Oh. Hell. Yes.