Wholly smoke! (pun intended) I wonder if I have a metal fatigue
problem too. We went down to San Antonio yesterday morne to pick up
Peg's new Prius. So I'm buzzing back up I-10, at around 80 per, happy
as a clam, when all of a sudden, in an uphill bend, I hit a bump and
something in the front end goes "pop." Now, every time I hit a bump,
something rattles up front. Ah, the joys of MG'ing.......... I'll
crawl under the cotton picker tomorrow.....Grrrr.....
Er, more joy: UNleaded plus is $1.89 per gallon down at SA! Costs
more here at K'patch. Thank you, GW.
CR
Eric wrote:
> Also, in describing my horror run at our last supersprint event I
> believe I mentioned that "something went bang in the front end" as I was
> enjoying the new found grip around a tight left-hand 'sweeper'.
>
> The new negative camber front end and limited slip diff was allowing me
> to tuck in tight on the ripple strip 'underneath' a car that was taking
> the line I used to have to take around this tight curving bend. As I
> slightly accelerated through the bend (enjoying this tight line) when in
> the past I would have been REALLY feathering the throttle, I heard and
> felt something go BANG in the front end. And suddenly the car felt very LOOSE.
>
> I thought something had gone in the steering but I was able to finish
> this last lap - albeit much more cautiously than ever before and with a
> car that was behaving very badly.
>
> Well, I soon found out what the damage was.
>
> I had actually broken the front sway-bar bracket (7/8" sway bar) - but
> worse was to come. When I got under the car to replace the bracket (a
> five minute job) I got the front bolt out although it was a little stiff
> but when I tried to get the rear bolt out I found it to be bent and very
> hard to turn... closer inspection showed a slight split or crack away
> from the bolt hole!
>
> I had literally torn the bolts out of the subframe.
>
> I guess you can lock the car down pretty tight but going through a
> corner like that, the car will still try to "twist". Push it hard
> enough and the weakest point will give way.
>
> I am going to have to look at reinforcing this weakpoint!
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