[Shotimes] Diagnostic help with broken SHO

[Steve Tatro]

You're referring to the high-quality, never dry-rot subframe bushings?  I
took a quick glance at them and didn't see any visible signs of breakage.  I
know some time ago I replaced all 4 sets of bushings (although I probably
made a mistake by not getting the aluminum ones) and they actually
disintegrate and fall out when they get bad enough!

Thanks for the reply.

Steve


On 3/24/06, Dave Kegel <d.kegel@comcast.net> wrote:
>
> Subframe mounts and or bolts.  Your motor mounts were probably never
> bad.
>
> Dave Kegel
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: shotimes-admin@autox.team.net
> [mailto:shotimes-admin@autox.team.net] On Behalf Of Steve Tatro
> Sent: Friday, March 24, 2006 3:38 PM
> To: SHOtimes
> Subject: [Shotimes] Diagnostic help with broken SHO
>
>
> This is regarding my '93 ATX.
>
> Early last week I was driving. Took a hard right corner, and I heard
> something break. In an instant my steering wheel was off-center and the
> car drove funny.
>
> It felt just like the time a few years ago my front motor mount broke,
> so I assumed it was the same thing. Give it some gas, the car jerks to
> the left (imagine some serious torque steer) and when you let off the
> gas it straightens out. To verify, when I got home I opened the hood,
> started the car, put it in drive, and gave it some gas. The motor was
> rocking all over the place. Great, almost positive it's the motor mount.
>
> Took it to my friendly neighborhood Goodyear - they've always been
> upfront with me and I can't say I've ever felt cheated by them. It was
> too cold to try to learn how to change a motor mount myself anyway. Good
> thing I took it in, because it turns out both the front and rear mounts
> were bad. Replaced the front, couldn't get the back replaced until
> yesterday since it was out of stock everywhere.
>
> The problem is the car still had the same symptoms. New mounts all
> around and the engine was still rocking. Took it back today and demanded
> that Goodyear return the front mount as defective and replace it for
> free. They did, after agreeing that there was nothing else they could
> find wrong and they knew of nothing else that could cause an engine to
> move like it was.
>
> So, about an hour ago, they got another new front mount installed.
> Problem is, the engine still rocks around and the car still pulls to the
> left when you give it some gas and corrects itself when you let off the
> gas.  Also, I should mention that the steering wheel is off-center when
> the wheels are tracking (somewhat) straight.
>
> They're at a loss. I'm at a loss. The Ford tech I spoke to on the phone
> is at a loss. The only other discernable problem in the front end is a
> slightly loose ball joint on the right side.
>
> Does anyone have any additional ideas? This car's served me well for 9
> years now but it's about to take a trip to it's final resting place -
> the junkyard!
>
> Thanks,
>
> Steve Tatro
> Red/Black '93 ATX with 187k miles
> Monroe, Ohio
>
> P.S.  Thanks to those that are reading this that have already replied to
> my SHO Forum post. _______________________________________________
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