Finally, a pot hole got me! - Pic heavy
06-25-2015, 02:51 PM
#1
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
Finally, a pot hole got me! - Pic heavy
Driving on Hurontario on Saturday, hit a small pot hole, but ait was one pot hole too many. Heard a terrible grinding noise, thought it was my rim, but when I looked, it was fine... when i looked under, it appeared as if my leaf spring had snapped.
Called CAA, God bless em, sent in a flat bed 35 min later. He was honest enough to say he was worried to pull the car up since its so low, and the bolt was stuck into the asphalt. he called for reinforcements. Now whis guy came 30 minutes later,.... and he was a pro! knew what to do.
He used a slider, and pushed it up. root cause, the top of the aftermarket bolt snapped right off. I learned a lot about the tranverse leaf spring system this weekend and realized how lowering the car was not really good for it.
Soo, good friend opened up his shop for me in Brampton, and had the car towed there. Went in on Monday and lucky I had the stock bolts still, we "modded" them by cutting some of the rubber to give me a 1.5 inch drop ( max drop on stock bolts)
Man, the car drives so much better and much better at launch! Its like a new car. Sits a little higher but doesn't look too bad with the offset...
Total damage: $145!!!!
Caution - Do not slam a z06 unless you got coil overs. Go as far as you can on the stock bolt and say no to aftermarket bolts!
here are the pics.
Called CAA, God bless em, sent in a flat bed 35 min later. He was honest enough to say he was worried to pull the car up since its so low, and the bolt was stuck into the asphalt. he called for reinforcements. Now whis guy came 30 minutes later,.... and he was a pro! knew what to do.
He used a slider, and pushed it up. root cause, the top of the aftermarket bolt snapped right off. I learned a lot about the tranverse leaf spring system this weekend and realized how lowering the car was not really good for it.
Soo, good friend opened up his shop for me in Brampton, and had the car towed there. Went in on Monday and lucky I had the stock bolts still, we "modded" them by cutting some of the rubber to give me a 1.5 inch drop ( max drop on stock bolts)
Man, the car drives so much better and much better at launch! Its like a new car. Sits a little higher but doesn't look too bad with the offset...
Total damage: $145!!!!
Caution - Do not slam a z06 unless you got coil overs. Go as far as you can on the stock bolt and say no to aftermarket bolts!
here are the pics.
Last edited by MRNZ06; 06-25-2015 at 03:01 PM.
06-25-2015, 03:40 PM
#5
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
Thanks... the tow truck driver said the same thing. He said he's seen rear ends ripped out from snagging something on the road at high speeds. ....Thank the goodl ord that didn't happen
06-25-2015, 04:20 PM
#6
Sorry for your aggravation and expense. Good thing the tow operator knew what to do, could have caused even more damage.
Mine is not lowered at all, I live on a gravel road and no ground clearance is not a good thing.
Mine is not lowered at all, I live on a gravel road and no ground clearance is not a good thing.
06-25-2015, 05:25 PM
#8
Race Director
Hard to believe the wheel is still round having transmitted that amount of energy to the bolt. But in a way, the bolt failing is better. A stronger bolt might have resulted in the wheel rim bending.
The cheap bolt acted like a circuit breaker for you.
The cheap bolt acted like a circuit breaker for you.
Counting your blessings I'm sure. Lucky you!
06-28-2015, 01:52 PM
#10
Race Director
Member Since: Apr 2007
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Ouch, but not the first time I've read of a lowering bolt breaking. The lowering bolts really aren't any harder on the leaf spring. It was a poor quality bolt and the bump was just the final straw that finished it off. Even without hitting any potholes, that bolt would have eventually let go.
The only part the lowering bolts is hard on is the bump stops, which are on the shocks. You wheel picture with the broken bolt shows the car on the bump stop. Whatever amount you lift it from that point is the suspension travel you have. Put the car really low and you're bashing into the bump stops on every bigger bump which makes for a crappy ride. You're probably higher now than with the lowering bolts so it doesn't hit the bump stops as often which is why it rides better.
The only part the lowering bolts is hard on is the bump stops, which are on the shocks. You wheel picture with the broken bolt shows the car on the bump stop. Whatever amount you lift it from that point is the suspension travel you have. Put the car really low and you're bashing into the bump stops on every bigger bump which makes for a crappy ride. You're probably higher now than with the lowering bolts so it doesn't hit the bump stops as often which is why it rides better.
06-28-2015, 04:16 PM
#11
Le Mans Master
The bolt failed from a fatigue fracture from what looks to be multiple origins in the thread root. You can see the beach marks - good, in-focus photo! Maybe the bolt was not hardened.
06-29-2015, 10:11 AM
#12
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
Ouch, but not the first time I've read of a lowering bolt breaking. The lowering bolts really aren't any harder on the leaf spring. It was a poor quality bolt and the bump was just the final straw that finished it off. Even without hitting any potholes, that bolt would have eventually let go.
The only part the lowering bolts is hard on is the bump stops, which are on the shocks. You wheel picture with the broken bolt shows the car on the bump stop. Whatever amount you lift it from that point is the suspension travel you have. Put the car really low and you're bashing into the bump stops on every bigger bump which makes for a crappy ride. You're probably higher now than with the lowering bolts so it doesn't hit the bump stops as often which is why it rides better.
The only part the lowering bolts is hard on is the bump stops, which are on the shocks. You wheel picture with the broken bolt shows the car on the bump stop. Whatever amount you lift it from that point is the suspension travel you have. Put the car really low and you're bashing into the bump stops on every bigger bump which makes for a crappy ride. You're probably higher now than with the lowering bolts so it doesn't hit the bump stops as often which is why it rides better.
Sticking with this set-up until I get coil overs one day.
