80 mph axle breakage.

[OBEEWON]

Last summer my axle broke on I495 at 80mph.



Besides the grease, scratches and broken brake lines everything seemed fine. Since then Ive been trouble shooting erratic steering issues, and horrible tire wear etc.
Till I was doing and alignment I noticed a small crack on my subframe.



So I got another one from WhiteZenki to replace it.




Dropped my old one out and this is what I found:


A little hard to tell but the metal was ripped out by the welds. Basically making the bracing on the sub frame one sided.



Other side not as bad. Everytime I made a sharp turn I could feel things moving about and hear creaking.











Im hype it wasn't all in my head! I also found a secondary culprit. Drivers side rack bushing was non existant.

[whitezenki]

WhiteZenki saves the day!!

haha and my dad said the S2K isnt going near the track.

guess i gotta steal it

[twastheglow]

Regarding the sharp turning and creaking...could you possibly describe that problem in detail? I'm trying to diagnose a problem that no one can figure out. Thanks!
*mike*

[jc8889]

That sucks, good detective work.

[jbdakid]

So how does it ride now??

It sucks when things breaks but sometimes that's the only way you find some of this stuff. Good job as always.

[OBEEWON]

Originally Posted by whitezenki

WhiteZenki saves the day!!

haha and my dad said the S2K isnt going near the track.

guess i gotta steal it

Yes, just unplug the odometer so he will never know. lol

Originally Posted by jbdakid

So how does it ride now??

It sucks when things breaks but sometimes that's the only way you find some of this stuff. Good job as always.
Today 05:13 PM

Yeah I know. I havnt finished yet. Getting sidetracked but ill update when I get it done and aligned.

Originally Posted by twastheglow

Regarding the sharp turning and creaking...could you possibly describe that problem in detail? I'm trying to diagnose a problem that no one can figure out. Thanks!
*mike*

Well the best way I can describe it is chassis loud creaking. Like metal flexing. It was really exaggerated since I have aluminum colars and a weldloc with solid mounts because the broken section did all the flexing the bushings would have done.

When I slid to the left (and right too but not as much) I had to keep changing my steering angle slightly like something was loose. Sliding was really unpredictable.

In the rain the car was a nightmare with anything but fresh tires, the rear end danced everywhere. I got 4 alignments in 2 months and still couldn't get things right.


You having similar probs?

[Keeper1343]

you can't just unplug the odometer and then race it. If your VSS (vehical speed sensor) is unplugged you will not be able to hit V-TEC. So you can't race it. I know this because it happened to me.

[twastheglow]

Originally Posted by OBEEWON

Well the best way I can describe it is chassis loud creaking. Like metal flexing. It was really exaggerated since I have aluminum colars and a weldloc with solid mounts because the broken section did all the flexing the bushings would have done.

When I slid to the left (and right too but not as much) I had to keep changing my steering angle slightly like something was loose. Sliding was really unpredictable.

In the rain the car was a nightmare with anything but fresh tires, the rear end danced everywhere. I got 4 alignments in 2 months and still couldn't get things right.


You having similar probs?

Well, I thought I was...but apparently not. Here's what my problem consists of...

Over the last couple months I've noticed my brakes getting worse and worse. I definately have a warped rotor in the front. I can feel it through the steering wheel and the brake pedal. Although I'm not sure that's related, about a couple weeks ago when turning my wheel to the right (usually pretty far) I would feel and hear a very loud clunking coming from what I thought was the front suspension. (I'm pretty sure it's coming from the right side) The clunk gets faster as the wheel speeds up...implying that it's from something rotating. It's intermitten too. It doesn't always happen. I've checked the suspension and wheel and it's free of any wear. The bearings are also only about 18 months old as I swapped everything over to 5 lug. This week I finally gave up and took it to a shop to have them do an alignment. While it was up on the lift I asked them to look everything over and explained to them what was going on. They couldn't find anything. I went out there with them and everything looked just fine and normal. Today I ordered new Circuit Sport slotted/crossdrilled rotors and Hawk HPS pads for the 300zx calipers I have on the front. I've checked everything and the only thing that I can guess is that it has something to do with my breaks. Either way, they have to be changed, so I'm hoping that fixes the problem.
Any thoughts?
*mike*

[OBEEWON]

It only happens when you turn right? Is the bearing pressed all the way in?

[twastheglow]

Yeah, I've checked it. It's been on the car for like a year a half now without any problems. That wouldn't happen now would it?
*mike*

[OBEEWON]

Its highly unlikely. thats really wierd. Unless your rotors are suuuuuuuuuuuuper warped and they are rubbing your caliper during turning. When are you changing the rotors?

[twastheglow]

I'm changing everything if not this Monday then the weekend after this one. I have more stupid car gremlins than anyone I know.
*mike*

[OBEEWON]

Lemme know if that fixes it. Im almost done with my gremlins...they always pop up as you fix them tho...boo.

[UnderPoweredRS]

Sounds like a wheel bearing jack the car remove the tire and rotor then grab the wheel studs and try to move them up and down and front to make see if you get any movement.

[jdmwill]

obee i still feel some type of way about you moving. nice to know you go the crossmemeber.

[twastheglow]

Originally Posted by UnderPoweredRS

Sounds like a wheel bearing jack the car remove the tire and rotor then grab the wheel studs and try to move them up and down and front to make see if you get any movement.

I did that. It doesn't move at all. It spins nice and smooth and there are no metal shavings or anything like that. (I already thought that and checked it out, thanks though.) Any other thoughts? If it was the bearing would only do it to one side and do it intermittenly?
*mike*

[Gorilla Unit 33]

OBEEE come back! i never knew u were having this type of problem. I guess this is why them alignments werent working out huh?

[OBEEWON]

Had an interview in KOP last week. I might be back dunno! Hey at least I didnt stay in France or London.(still a possibility tho)

LJ you coming to UMD meet? I sent you a message too Will.

[Gorilla Unit 33]

sunday right? probably. how fars the drive? you got a link to a thread with a location or something for me?

[UnderPoweredRS]

Originally Posted by twastheglow

I did that. It doesn't move at all. It spins nice and smooth and there are no metal shavings or anything like that. (I already thought that and checked it out, thanks though.) Any other thoughts? If it was the bearing would only do it to one side and do it intermittenly?
*mike*

Did You removed the rotor and all? Sometime the brakes will hold the rotor in place and you won't notice any movement. Did you do this on all four corners?