Quick Fix???

[dw215]

today i hit a pot hole in the road, i think something got disconnect, because now when hit a bump it makes a clanking noise. i looked under the car when i got home tonight, i noticed something disconnected. not really sure what it is, Can someone identify it and tell me if its a quick fix or something else? thanks

[nynor]

that is your sway bar bushing. it has come out of where it lives.

[nynor]

you have a major leak at your main oil seal, maybe others.

[dw215]

can i pop it back in place??
yea i think the oil is old i got the leaks fixed a couple of monthes ago, but never cleaned that dirt off

[adrian1]

yeah just jack up your car and it should slide into place maybe with some lubricant if not then take out those two bolts and put it back in with the car jacked up.

[dw215]

ok thanks that sounds good....is it safe to drive as it is now?

[dw215]

Also is this bad?? not sure how it looks before, but looks like it broke off

[Eldorado]

it's not really a clear pic, but if that mount is broken, you'll need to replace it.

in your 2nd and 3rd pics, your mount looks to be elongated a bit - it should be a perfect circle... look on the other side of the car - if it looks different in any way, or broken at all, replace the mount. it's a cheap fix if you can find someone willing to part one for you.

yes, the car is technically drivable at this point.. but with that sway bar mount broken, you're putting excess stress on the other mounts, which could cause them to bend or go bad..

Also, if the pot hole was large enough to snap that mount, your wheels almost surely got knocked out of alignment - i'd get one done.

[dw215]

thanks a lot i appreciate it, i just went outside to the car, i was able to pull the bushing back into place but the mount is def broke, im def goin to take it to get replaced and a wheel alignment at the end of the week, thaks for the help

[dw215]

just wondering, im trying to look for the part online, but the name doesnt match, is it a sway bar mount? or is it called something else?
also is it hard to install?
thanks again

[Slam]

What worries me is the way your crossmember sits. It looks as if the forward blind nut has been pulled through the sheet metal - I could be wrong (and I hope I am) but it's not looking like it's sitting right to me. The sway bar bushing may be the least of your worries.

[dw215]

i appreciate the input, but honestly i have no idea what the crossmember is, can you point it out to me?
which picture and where?

[Slam]

In your first photo, the crossmember is visible almost in the centre of the photo. If you look up along the sway bar mount (and Kyle's right, it's broken) and toward the rear of the car you'll see the cross member mount for the driver's side. That crossmember bolts to the unibody on both sides of the car and supports the engine from below. It's also what your steering rack mounts to, as well as your control arms. I just went down to my garage and checked my own spare crossmember and I'm pretty sure yours has pulled out of its mount at the front. If this is the case then you should have a mechanic come and look at the car for you. Don't drive it! Please!

I hope I'm wrong about this...

[dw215]

hmmmm that doesnt sound good, ive added another angle maybe a better view or could be worse not sure, also, im still not sure what parts so ive circled some can you tell me which number, thanks a lot

[Eldorado]

i think he's talking about #1... but i could be wrong...
i cant relly tell by the photos - in person, does it look like there is any damage here?

[Slam]

#1 in the photo is the crossmember. It should be sitting flush with the unibody rail. #2 is the lower u-joint for your steering rack to steering column coupler. #3 is where your sway bar mount bolts to the unibody rail.

Hi, Kyle - how's summer down east?

[dw215]

ok just went outside took some more pics, my neighbors probably think im nuts laying down under my car taking pictures at 2am, 1st two are of the right, 3rd is on the left one, sideways view

[Slam]

Well, that makes us both nuts. I went out and did what I should have done in the first place - lie under my own car and have a really good look. There's nothing wrong with your cross member mounting.

Feeling pretty foolish at the moment...serves me right for going by memory and not checking.

I'd better go to bed before this gets out of hand.

[Eldorado]

hey, nothing wrong with spotting something in a pic that might be wrong, and it turning out to be nothing..... because what if it was? just be thankful all is well

My summer is going well, Simon.. unfortunately i lost my job a few weeks ago, so I'm looking for work again.. but after that, not too bad... good to hear from you! been keeping busy?

[dw215]

haha no problem Slam, i appreciate the concern and help, and hey, now i know what a and where the cross member is, thanks