>From: Jarrid Gross <JGross(at)econolite.com>
>
>First of all, does the minivan have struts in the front?
Yes, it has struts.
>On many cars, the sway bar has a double duty, one as a sway bar,
>and another as the locator for the lower control arms.
The end link attach point is actually on the strut a foot or more above the
control arm. I checked out a manual this morning and the manufacturer
actually calls it a stabilizer bar. So, you're probably on target about the
double duty.
>Now to the hollow bar issue.....
>This is not a typical failure.........
>A failure like this is most likely attributable to a defect in the
>material,
>or some sort of a processing error, where the part was somehow over
>hardened.
I had one private response regarding a similar failure of a hollow bar on a
Tiger after only two years of use. I tend to agree with you that they were
likely due to latent defects; but suspect the hollow bars are a lot less
forgiving of them.
One other thing I got from the manual was a refreshed appreciation of the
relative simplicity of the Alpine. "Step 1: Loosen the engine mounts and
drop the engine until you can barely get a wrench on the bar attachment
bolts"..... it's off to the shop.
Regards,
Bob Douglas
NO ARCHIVE
>
>
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Tue Sep 05 2000 - 11:01:39 CDT