Ran up a curb :(
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,071
Likes: 14
From: Odessa TX
Ran up a curb :(
Moment of carelessness today. Had an important phone call to take, so I pulled into a parking lot and to take it. Had the car in gear, foot lightly on brake and other foot on the clutch. Well as I'm talking, I forget that the car is in gear, drop the clutch by accident, and the car jerked forward over a curb. Was rather pissed, but the damage seems to be relatively minor, based on what I've seen curbs do to these cars. Bottom of front bumper is cracked and scraped in spots as expected. The front piece of the lower radiator support, which looks like is normally welded to the frame, got torn off. Guess those frame rails are harder than I thought, I was thinking they would just collapse.
So looks like I'm in for a new front bumper cover, new frame rails, and welding the radiator support back to the frame. Alignment didn't seem to have been changed, guess I got lucky this time.
Will get pictures up later, maybe.
So looks like I'm in for a new front bumper cover, new frame rails, and welding the radiator support back to the frame. Alignment didn't seem to have been changed, guess I got lucky this time.
Will get pictures up later, maybe.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,071
Likes: 14
From: Odessa TX
Not a fan of the tigershark look.
Also, from what I can tell based on pictures, the skid bars is one piece with the radiator support? And it looks like there's holes at the top of the radiator support to screw it to the frame? Can someone who has knowledge on this confirm? Seems like a fairly straightforward fix if this is the case
I try not to phone+drive when possible. Looks like I still got screwed though.
Also, from what I can tell based on pictures, the skid bars is one piece with the radiator support? And it looks like there's holes at the top of the radiator support to screw it to the frame? Can someone who has knowledge on this confirm? Seems like a fairly straightforward fix if this is the case
I try not to phone+drive when possible. Looks like I still got screwed though.
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Sorry for the bad luck. Hope you get the car fixed soon.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,071
Likes: 14
From: Odessa TX
Looks bolted on in that picture, but when I took a quick peak under the car after getting it off the curb, I was certain I saw a torn weld on the place it attaches to the frame. Maybe the support snapped as opposed to the bolts? Hopefully it'd take a lot more than a small curb hit to bend the frame... all my body panels seems to line up pretty well still though, so I'm really thinking it's just the support that's damaged.
In any case, the skid bars were all mangled to begin with. And my bumper cover had a bunch of very poorly filled rock chips. At least my front end will look a lot better now! I still feel quite idiotic.. rookie mistake.
Last edited by onspeed; Oct 7, 2011 at 12:30 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 11,467
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From: 972 and 405
Mistakes happen. That's actually the picture I was referring to. It does look bolted on. Hopefully that is the case but we can't know for sure until everything is taken apart. Don't feel too bad, could've happened to anyone. Good luck 
-Alex
-Alex
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,071
Likes: 14
From: Odessa TX
Black car.
Looks like the screws ripped out of the frame, so I'm going to have to figure some way to fab something up. I'm thinking getting a small sheet of aluminum or steel and screwing or welding it into place where the screw hole use to be.
Looks like the screws ripped out of the frame, so I'm going to have to figure some way to fab something up. I'm thinking getting a small sheet of aluminum or steel and screwing or welding it into place where the screw hole use to be.
Le Mans Master
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From: Kyle TX (Because Mojo Made me fill it in)
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,071
Likes: 14
From: Odessa TX
Also been noticing a squeaking front end, haven't had time to jack it up to see if something is amiss though. Every little bump will cause it to squeak. 
I assume isn't just a sway bar endlink or bushing or something... been thinking of overhauling the suspension on this car anyways, don't think it has ever been touched by the PO. But in the mean time, anyone have any suggestions?
I assume isn't just a sway bar endlink or bushing or something... been thinking of overhauling the suspension on this car anyways, don't think it has ever been touched by the PO. But in the mean time, anyone have any suggestions?
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 11,467
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From: 972 and 405
Also been noticing a squeaking front end, haven't had time to jack it up to see if something is amiss though. Every little bump will cause it to squeak.
I assume isn't just a sway bar endlink or bushing or something... been thinking of overhauling the suspension on this car anyways, don't think it has ever been touched by the PO. But in the mean time, anyone have any suggestions?
I assume isn't just a sway bar endlink or bushing or something... been thinking of overhauling the suspension on this car anyways, don't think it has ever been touched by the PO. But in the mean time, anyone have any suggestions?
.-Alex
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,343
Likes: 9
From: Lexington Park MD
Sorry to hear but oh well it happens sometimes and life will go on.
I remember back in high school one day I was driving my mother's Miata and did something similar where the front tires hopped the parking curb. Luckily the Miata is higher off the ground so no damage and was light enough for me and two buddies to pick it up and put it back lol.
I remember back in high school one day I was driving my mother's Miata and did something similar where the front tires hopped the parking curb. Luckily the Miata is higher off the ground so no damage and was light enough for me and two buddies to pick it up and put it back lol.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,071
Likes: 14
From: Odessa TX
Figured out the squeaking. Axle back bolts have come loose I think. Can hear a squeaking coming from somewhere under the car when hitting the muffler. Good to know that it's not suspension related.
Now the only thing I'm concerned about is how to go about mounting a new radiator support in. The front nutserts for both sides ripped out of the frame rail. I'm thinking either smoothing out the hole, JB weld the nutsert back into place and hope it holds (doubtful.) or getting some steel plates, screwing/welding those onto the frame rail, and bolting the radiator support into the plate.
I assume a body shop would probably just hammer the hold back to a round, then weld the nutsert into place? I might do that, except I can't really drive the car without a lower radiator support in place, and I know they will get me on "labor" charges for R/R'ing it.
If anyone has some clever DIY ideas, please share.
Now the only thing I'm concerned about is how to go about mounting a new radiator support in. The front nutserts for both sides ripped out of the frame rail. I'm thinking either smoothing out the hole, JB weld the nutsert back into place and hope it holds (doubtful.) or getting some steel plates, screwing/welding those onto the frame rail, and bolting the radiator support into the plate.
I assume a body shop would probably just hammer the hold back to a round, then weld the nutsert into place? I might do that, except I can't really drive the car without a lower radiator support in place, and I know they will get me on "labor" charges for R/R'ing it.
If anyone has some clever DIY ideas, please share.