Front Suspension Failure!!

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Nov 23, 2001 | 12:59 PM

joe7oaks

Thread Starter

Instructor

Joined: Aug 2000

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From: San Diego CA

Polished wheel destroyed!! Front Suspension Failure!!

I was driving on a city street, just starting a right turn into a parking lot, speed about 25-30 mph, when there was a loud bang from the vicinity of the left front wheel. I thought I had hit something and cut the tire but the DIC showed all pressures were OK. There was also a loud grinding noise from the same area.

I stopped and looked under the car but couldn't see anything wrong so I pulled into a parking spot to check it out. The left front lower control arm and ball joint had dropped down onto the inside of the wheel. I called Chevrolet Emergency Service and everything worked as advertised. The tow truck (flat bed type) operator took great care so as to not damage the car further. The car was taken to my dealer for repair.

The left front lower control arm ball joint joint stud nut (whew!) had COME OFF!!! Thank Goodness I wasn't on the freeway at 85 mph.

The dealer replaced the control arm and the wheel and retourqued both the lower ball joint stud nuts. Everything seems to be fine now.

Has anyone heard of this happening before? I guess it's just something else to watch out for. :mad

[Modified by joe7oaks, 11:50 AM 11/23/2001]

Nov 23, 2001 | 02:33 PM

B. Stewart

Burning Brakes

Joined: Jan 2001

Posts: 985

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From: Palm Desert, CA , USA

Re: Polished wheel destroyed!! Front Suspension Failure!! (joe7oaks)

Have you had any front end work done recently?

Nov 23, 2001 | 04:58 PM

steve badalamenti

Melting Slicks

Joined: Apr 1999

Posts: 2,611

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From: Lake Martin ALABAMA

Re: Polished wheel destroyed!! Front Suspension Failure!! (joe7oaks)

DOH !........... I hate when that happens ! :eek:

That's the first I've heard of such a thing.... glad nobody got hurt, and no bodywork was needed.

Nov 23, 2001 | 07:23 PM

HummelS

Race Director

Joined: Aug 1999

Posts: 17,541

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From: Manhattan, KS Missing SoCal since 2005

Re: Polished wheel destroyed!! Front Suspension Failure!! (joe7oaks)

Yow! That's scary. Glad you're ok, Joe!

Nov 23, 2001 | 10:48 PM

John Shiels

Team Owner

Joined: Jul 1999

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From: Buy USA products! Check the label! Employ Americans

Re: Polished wheel destroyed!! Front Suspension Failure!! (B. Stewart)

Did the ball joint break or loosen up? I found one loose when getting race ready. How many miles on the car?

Nov 24, 2001 | 01:09 AM

joe7oaks

Thread Starter

Instructor

Joined: Aug 2000

Posts: 163

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From: San Diego CA

Re: Polished wheel destroyed!! Front Suspension Failure!! (John Shiels)

The ball joint didn't break or loosen up. The nut came off the ball joint stud.

Nov 24, 2001 | 10:15 AM

John Shiels

Team Owner

Joined: Jul 1999

Posts: 50,808

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From: Buy USA products! Check the label! Employ Americans

Re: Polished wheel destroyed!! Front Suspension Failure!! (joe7oaks)

That's what was happening to mine lucky I found it before the wall at Pocono. It messed up the control arm so that had to be replaced too. All was fixed under warranty and next day airedso I could get to the track :yesnod:

Nov 24, 2001 | 11:57 AM

davidfarmer

Race Director

Joined: Sep 1999

Posts: 12,435

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From: CONCORD NC

Re: Polished wheel destroyed!! Front Suspension Failure!! (John Shiels)

the nuts are what I call locking "squashed" nuts, as they are literally squashed so that they fit very tightly. However, some are tighter than others.

Sorry for your problems.

Dave