Thanks Lawrie, thanks Rod,
here's my tale, that others may learn from my misfortune (except that it is
not really a woeful story, and no-one dies at the end).
So, as Lawrie correctly diagnosed, one of the U-bolts at the rear had
failed. The front portion of the inner LHS U-bolt had sheared. Peeking
under the car I counted 1-2-3-4 nuts on the RHS and 1-2-3-uh-oh on the LHS.
Fortunately the pin in the centre was still present and complete.
I replaced the rear springs and shocks about 2 years ago. At the time I
bought new parts for the whole job, including U-bolts. I was young, naive,
hey, I needed the money, so I reused the old U-bolts. Anyone reading this
will spot that immediately as a Mistake.
I had kept one pair of the U-bolts (and nuts), so I was able to do the job
today without fretting about sourcing parts. It was very easy to do, and I
think I shall do the other side before too long, just in case. Actually I
think the LHS bolts were slightly misaligned, as the old ones that I took
off were a bit bent, so perhaps they were under greater stress than they
ought to have been. The RHS looks straight.
Anyway, it's a lovely Sunday here in the SF Bay Area. I'm off for a drive
to Stanford to pick up my wife. I shall probably visit the Stanford Mall
for lunch. Anyone in the area is welcome to meet me for a coffee at the
Palo Alto Coffee Company in the Stanford Mall (opposite Macy's) at 12:45.
Black jeans, black T-shirt, glasses, long hair.
Later,
Andy
|