Hey guys, I haven't been on here for awhile. For the past few days I've noticed a creaking sound during turning, braking, and at highway speed. It seemed to be coming from the passenger side rear, so yesterday I took a look underneath. What I noticed was the part of the chassis where the sway bar links attach to was cracked on the side I was hearing the creaking. The owner who I bought the car from (a fellow orger and also a good friend) installed the Blehmco sway bar links and ST sway bars and I'm pretty confident he did it right. I took some pictures, but not sure if you can really make out the damage in them.



a close-up view of the crack. The metal bends just by gently pulling the sway bar


you can kind of see how it's crooked sitting in that bracket


and here's a picture of the driver's side link for comparison

so what should I do? Can this be fixed?

 

I would cut the orginal bracket off,find one off a junker,and weld it back in place..

Or have a stronger piece fabbed up and do the same,cut/weld..

 

I just had a shop weld in a plate and drilled a hole in it. On the back might be easier.

 

I thought the BlehmCo rear links were designed so that the links in the back won't break? Not to be downing Mr. Matt B. b/c I'm still down to get some, but what's the use if it's going to break it one way or the other?

 

The links didnt break, the part of the car they connect to did from what i can tell.

I bet if they were the oem links, they would have just broken under the stress instead of bending the bracket.

 

I'm sure a muffler shop can reinforce that with thicker gauge metal for a few bucks.


Why does that car look so familiar?

 

Correct. If anything, this goes to show you just how strong Matt's pieces are.

If you mean the sig pic, that's my old car which is now being driven by my sister. If you mean the pics of the undercarriage, that's Cheocwa's old car (though I don't know how you'd recognize it from just the rsb).

I'll try a muffler shop tomorrow. Thanks for your help, guys.

 

My BlehmCo rear links came with a new stronger piece of angle, I had to grind off the original brackets, and screw and weld the new bracket on. I can take some photos if you like?
I am guessing that Matt didn't always supply a stronger piece of angle for the mounting (unlikely as this was the first thing that broke when I mounted a heavier sway bar on the original links), or the previous owner didn't bother installing the new bracket and just used the original one.

 

pics are always welcome! I'd really appreciate it! Thanks, sonicii. Also, welcome to the forums, if you haven't been already welcomed.

 

Well, I ordered my own set of links before I bought this car and those didn't come with their own brackets. I would like to see pics of these extra pieces.

 

My blehmco links came with some angle pieces as well. I didn't grind the old connections off, I attached the angle piece to the old mount. I figured that doubling up the parts would add additional strength.

 

Thanks for the welcome guys.. I am hanging out to be able to post new threads, but at the same time I don't want to be know as a hijacker!!

Sorry for the delay, but here is the pic of my sway bar bracket, as you can see I only ground off the produding section of the original angle, I left the welded section in place, then screwed and welded the angle that came with the bracket from Matt. I also sprayed everything (except the joint) with oil based sound deadener, mainly to protect it from corrosion.

 

Well that's interesting. I wonder why cheocwa and I never received these pieces? I'll send Matt a message to see what's up. Thanks for the pics sonicii, and welcome to the org!

 

I got a set from another member on here and they had the angle pieces. BUT my car already had the angle pieces as well (the previous owner put them on).

I will look in my garage tomorrow and see if I still have the extra set of angle iron. If I do I will send them to you...but you will have to come up with your own screws since I dont have any extras I dont think.

I will PM you some time tomorrow.

 

Not even worth the price of shipping michael. Angle iron is like $2 at Home Despot or where ever. I'd weld them though.

 

Then the package didn't get to you completely intact. I ALWAYS ship those sections of angle to replace the factory mount, as they're often the first thing that breaks (as has been mentioned here already).

I send them pre-drilled and include self-tapping screws for a temporary installation, and recommend you take the car to a muffler shop and weld them on as soon as you get a chance.

 

That makes sense because the RSTB I ordered with the links was missing parts too (which you sent me promptly after notifying you).

I really appreciate the effort, but I guess I'll just go buy the pieces myself as Jeffy suggested. It just kinda bothered me that other people got these pieces and I didn't. Now that I know it was the delivery service that messed up, I feel better. Thanks though.

 

If you need me to send you some, I'll be glad to.. but you'll be up and running faster and easier if you pick up a piece of angle from the hardware store and cut it. only two cuts and a couple 3/8" holes to drill, then take them to the muffler shop and pay them a few bucks to weld them on and you'll be good.

If you want me to send you a set, it's going to take a while, since I don't have any more of them made up... I'll have to make some up and send them to you, which will take 1-2 weeks before I have the time.

 

yeah the only reason I mentioned it is because not everyone has the tools to cut a decent thickness angle iron or drill it out like Jeff mentioned.

good luck.

 

very nice, sonicii. Looks much stronger than the stock L-bracket. Thanks for the pic as I am surely going to do the same, and welcome to the .org!

And... ehh, Matt, I'm still lookin' at your rear links