I nearly died tonight.

[Fab1]

As the title states I was a very lucky chap on my way home from work tonight.

The third last turn from home which is around 800m away I downshifted to second gear to make a left turn when I hear an almighty crack and my front tyre locks up and I skid to a halt.

I put it in gear nothing,my thoughts turn to a Broken cv joint.

I get out in the with the torch to find my passenger side control arm with an almighty crack which seams to have fatigued due to rust causing my left tyre to cock back against the inner wheel causing it to jamming up.

Not 5mins before I was coming off the freeway when this could of led to my death or innocent motorists dying.

Goes to show how quick things can go south.

A tow home,a couple hours later and my wallet $100 lighter I'm safely home with the car in the driveway ready for surgery.

I'll post some pics of the damage in the morning.

If this happened while towing on Saturday it would of woken me up real quick.

Very,very,very lucky indeed.

Cheers.

Edited March 7, 2016 by Fab1

[Ric001]

Hey Fab. Very lucky it was a left turn as you were turning left. Could have been significantly worse.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Fab1]

Worse than I thought last night.

All that held it on is one bush and the ball joint.The cv shaft has come out of the gearbox aswell.

I'm glad that didn't happen in peak hour,towing or on the freeway.

[locodave]

Is this the hilux you have?

[Guest 4myson]

What car was this on ??

[Fab1]

It was on my Daewoo.If anyone knows anyone with a holden Astra be mindfull as they run the same control arms.

I think it was age and water getting in the seams rusting it out weakening it causing it to fail as they are the original control arms but I have put nolathane bushes on them in the past.

I have ordered both sides to replace them.

As said I could not be here typing this and am extremely lucky it didn't happen elsewhere.

Cheers.

[big Neil]

You are indeed lucky that it happened when it did Fabian. Good luck with the repairs mate.

[Fab1]

You are indeed lucky that it happened when it did Fabian. Good luck with the repairs mate.

indeed I am mate.Just a matter of waiting for them to arrive and an hour or so of my time to replace.

It certainly was a first for me.

Fabian.

[Brooker435]

Damn, you were lucky. to the best of your knowledge has the car ever been involved in a accident?

to break the way it did comes as a surprise, Ive seen Control arms bend after being hit but for it to crack like that is unbelieveable.

I wonder if thats happenned to anyone else with the same car.

Regards,

Nathan

[bessell1955]

I have never seen a control arm break like this unless it have been involved in a major collision.

[Fab1]

Damn, you were lucky. to the best of your knowledge has the car ever been involved in a accident?

to break the way it did comes as a surprise, Ive seen Control arms bend after being hit but for it to crack like that is unbelieveable.

I wonder if thats happenned to anyone else with the same car.

Regards,

Nathan

I have never seen a control arm break like this unless it have been involved in a major collision.

I can assure you both the cars never been in a accident or hit something as I'm the original owner from new.

I pulled it apart awaiting my new control arms today and had a good look at what has occurred.

It appears that over time water and grime has worked its magic causing rust inbetween the two halves of the arms which essentially weakened them leading to stress cracks and eventuall complete failure.

Here are some photos of the damage.I certainly will be inspecting my suspension more closely with an inspection mirror and torch more often from now on as I don't push to think what could of happened.

In the last photo you can see a crack just starting.

Cheers.

[Fab1]

Hurray,the parts arrived late last night and car all good again.

Best part is I can get my boat out of the garage for a fish later on tonight hopefully.If I get out there I'll post a report.

Cheers.