triumphs
[Top] [All Lists]

Re: [TR] Coulda-Been Catastrophic Failure?

To: triumphs@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: [TR] Coulda-Been Catastrophic Failure?
From: Randall <tr3driver@ca.rr.com>
Date: Fri, 3 Oct 2014 20:56:16 +0000
Authentication-results: cdptpa-oedge03 smtp.user=tr3driver@ca.rr.com; auth=pass (LOGIN)
Delivered-to: mharc@autox.team.net
Delivered-to: triumphs@autox.team.net
Sensitivity: Normal 2014 20:56:16 +0000
> And how difficult will this
> be able to fix well enough to drive the car to a proper mechanic to have the
> car completely gone through?

Depends on the damage done.  Just replacing the upper ball joint isn't too 
difficult.  If the vertical link and/or A-arms are damaged, then you'll need a 
proper spring compressor (about $50 at the usual suspects or build your own), 
and of course suitable replacement parts; but the work still isn't particularly 
hard.

If that sounds like too much, though, hire a flat bed.  This is not an area to 
be making compromises.

> And what might have been the fundamental cause?

>From your description, I'd say most likely hidden accident damage.  It's 
>possible the nut "just came off", but that would indicate defective or 
>incorrectly assembled parts.  That joint is supposed to have a thin Nyloc nut, 
>which is supposed to be replaced every time it's taken off.  Someone either 
>used the wrong nut (I've gotten ball joints with tall nuts, so the locking 
>element doesn't contact the threads) or reused the same nut until it lost it's 
>locking power.

And even if the nut did come off, the "locking" taper should have held for a 
long time.

> The wheel in question also appeared a
> bit out of whack when I had the car up on axle stands a few weeks ago. 

Uhh ... yeah, you were lucky.  I'm guessing that next time it looks "out of 
whack", you'll investigate _before_ taking a drive.

Randall

** triumphs@autox.team.net **

Archive: http://www.team.net/archive

<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>