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The Grape: Unofficially popped

Z

zorrex

Enjoys the Abuse
Joined
Mar 26, 2007
Messages
11,840
Location
South Amherst, MA
So, umm, the Grape might be dead. It didn't like when I rammed it into a curb tonight. Let's cut to the chase:

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And that's not even the worst of it. The sway bar endlink is bent, the inner tie rod is bent, steering rack could possibly be FUBAR, and worst of all, even after replacing the LCA and adjusting the tie rod (we attempted to set the toe correct), I still have MAJOR positive camber on the driver's side, and pretty bad negative camber on the passenger side. We think the whole subframe is shifted.

I say "we" because Greg, aircougar, is the absolute :censored::censored::censored::censored:ing man and had a decent condition LCA lying around, and he replaced that thing in no time. Many thanks to him for being quite possibly the best mechanic AND best guy I know and helping me out tonight.
 
Right about now I bet you feel like your life is the basis of that song from Theory of a Deadman, "I Hate My Life."
 
It happened in the parking lot where I work. I was at my coworker's car chit chatting for a quick second, when some trashy people came up to the entrance of the store (we were closed at the time), and started putting big bags of charcoal in the carriage. They saw we were closed and were just gonna steal it (Why do they leave stuff like that outside? I always wonder...). I hopped in my car and drove through the parking lot, at no more than 30mph, took a slight turn around and island, and was applying the brakes as I was turning toward the entrance to the store. I hit a patch of gravel/sand and the brakes locked up, and since I was in a turn, the wheels continued to skid even after letting go of the brakes. Must have hit the curb at about 15-20. *sigh*

This is the first time I've ever really crashed my car...:(
 
Not to thread jack, but you're not the only one to fubar a LCA that way too. How high was the curb? I ask because i hit one around the same speed as well and my subframe didn't shift at all. My tie rod was bent to hell and the LCA was done for.


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don't forget what I said on the phone last night, the knuckle could be bent also. I have seen that happen once before, the control arm and knuckle bent.
 
Yah, check that knuckle or just change it out. The bearings probably won't last too long after a hit like that anyway..... bummer dude
 
I'm going to bring it to an alignment shop today to see if they can diagnose exactly what is wrong. Aircougar checked the subframe, and he said the driver's side is positioned correct, but the passenger side is off. I guess there's alignment holes in it or something? I'm not too sure.

What sucks the most is that I have zero cash to pay for this pile of :censored::censored::censored::censored:. Ugh. :mad:

And yes, I did deter the thieves, although they were laughing at me as they drove away. Bastards. :nonono:
 
sorry to see this Ian, from what I understand the LCAs are designed to give away to keep from damaging the subframe, however, aircougar is a good source so I would believe him over anybody else, you might get lucky and an alignment ship could compensate for such issues, it has been done before. How did you manage to nail a curb?

I was in the same boat over the winder, hit some ice and slid into a curb on the driver side rear, bent the flat arm back there, but that was a fairly easy replacement. (and by easy I mean aweful -16 weather).
 
AliasJerk said:
sorry to see this Ian, from what I understand the LCAs are designed to give away to keep from damaging the subframe, however, aircougar is a good source so I would believe him over anybody else, you might get lucky and an alignment ship could compensate for such issues, it has been done before. How did you manage to nail a curb?

I was in the same boat over the winder, hit some ice and slid into a curb on the driver side rear, bent the flat arm back there, but that was a fairly easy replacement. (and by easy I mean aweful -16 weather).
Click to expand...

zorrex said:
It happened in the parking lot where I work. I was at my coworker's car chit chatting for a quick second, when some trashy people came up to the entrance of the store (we were closed at the time), and started putting big bags of charcoal in the carriage. They saw we were closed and were just gonna steal it (Why do they leave stuff like that outside? I always wonder...). I hopped in my car and drove through the parking lot, at no more than 30mph, took a slight turn around and island, and was applying the brakes as I was turning toward the entrance to the store. I hit a patch of gravel/sand and the brakes locked up, and since I was in a turn, the wheels continued to skid even after letting go of the brakes. Must have hit the curb at about 15-20. *sigh*

This is the first time I've ever really crashed my car...:(
Click to expand...

As it stands right now, I'm going to try and fix this stupid car, but it won't be easy. I think I'm going to bring it to Sears, where I had my winter tires mounted and got my alignment, and see if they can troubleshoot the vehicle. The driver's side of the subframe is aligned, but the passenger's side isn't. Aircougar checked the alignment holes. The toe on the driver's side was off because of the bend inner tie rod and possible damage to the steering rack, but the toe on the passenger side was fine. He adjusted the tie rod, guesstimating proper toe, and he ended up pulling the tie rod end out about half an inch! :shocked: Hence why I think there may be steering rack damage! Ah, well, I'm going to get my ass in gear and head to Sears. Thanks for the kind words guys.
 
No big deal. I just didn't feel like typing it out again, lol. Man I wish I could go back and change what happened. *sigh*
 
Seeing bent control arms like that always make me cringe. And I'm sorry the thieves laughed. I'm sure that was the topping on the crap sandwich.
 
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