Crossmember damage with pics

Post by **merk23literturbo** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 3:41 am

I looked at my crossmember and saw this, it's the very last pic:
http://www.angelfire.com/pa3/lyzcoinc/alignshaft.html
I always thought that the crossmember was kind of weak. This will obviously affect alignment. Go take a look at yours and report back.

Larry Velk · Post by **Larry Velk** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 9:12 am

First off, it's your post I referenced in a post on the 'other' forum (I couldn't figure out how to upload on this forum). So.... I need to edit again to say "see Angelfire post on DS align".
Anyway, I put my jack stands in this area and the crossmember gets a little banged up if it's a daily driver. I don't see a crack. Is the crack between the hole and the lower control arm bolt? I guess I wouldn't worry, and I'm normally a little paranoid.
Larry

Post by **merk23literturbo** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 12:03 pm

The part that is bent is the same on both sides. It's the lower part of the crossmember. It is bending because of something. It is the same on both of my cars. I would like to reinforce it somehow. Has anyone done this? i don't think it will break or fall off but it would be nice to fix it somehow.
Oh, BTW, I never put jack stands there.

Post by **DPDISXR4Ti** » Sun Dec 30, 2007 12:24 pm

Don- So you're thinking those bends are from stress rather than impact? I would think that you'd see other evidence in the beam's lack of trueness if that was the case, no?

I've actually got a ~30" length of angle iron attached to the bottom of the beam, fastened in place via longer bolts that secure the steering rack. But I did that more to stengthen up the mid-section after having the make some mods to fit the AL pan. You could perhaps fabricate a brace that spanned the two inner TCA mounting points, but I'm not convinced that's needed. A little more custom fabrication would yield you something that combines what I've already done with what you're looking to do, I think.

Post by **merk23literturbo** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 12:15 am

The damage appears to be caused by the lower arm torquing back on every bump and eventually twisting it. That's a guess but looks like what would could happen. I posted to see if anyone else would look and see if theirs looked like this also.

milehighXR · Post by **milehighXR** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 12:44 am

Mine doesn't and I've hit a curb hard enough to bend the sway bar

To me it looks like you(or PO if your not orig owner) hit a rock in the highway, or a REALY large pothole. I have been running for a year(against even my better judgment) with bad sway bar to tca bushings and don't have that kind of damage. The right front wheel moved a full 2 inches with just me pushing on it, and I'm 130lbs soaking wet... The ball joint on the other hand...

Post by **merk23literturbo** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 1:03 am

Just to repeat, this is on both of my cars. I don't do curb shots and avoid every pothole that I can. BTW, Pennsylvania has the most potholes of any state. If you live in Cali, you prolly won't have this kind of damage. Driving in PA is like driving in a rally every day.

milehighXR · Post by **milehighXR** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 1:13 am

That's wild. My car's pretty straight, and I haven't been very "diligent" about avoiding every pothole. PO even wrecked teh right front, and had to have the right rear repainted for some reason.

My Scorpios also are straight, and the x-member appears to be the same thickness on those...