Suspension = Fail (Update) Help!
Glifious
Wagonist
So the first time I took my wagon on the interstate I noticed the rear end was jumping side to side after hitting small bumps and potholes. I drove it about an hour away from my house to my parents where I was staying a few days. I know nothing about suspension especially on wagons but this just doesn't look right to me.
Update: I installed the st rear sway bar in the wagon hoping it would fix the sway the rust out was causing, but it doesn't seem to help at all. I realized the other day that not only did both the sides fall through the frame, they also fell through the body on both sides near the wheel well. The rear wheel wells are pretty much non existent. So would the best bet be to weld up patch panels on the wheel wells and re weld the bolts to it? Or is there some sort of Rear Lower Tie Bars I can add in there to support it? Any help is greatly appreciated. Also if anyone with an rt could post pictures of how under their car is that'd be great for reference.
Update: I installed the st rear sway bar in the wagon hoping it would fix the sway the rust out was causing, but it doesn't seem to help at all. I realized the other day that not only did both the sides fall through the frame, they also fell through the body on both sides near the wheel well. The rear wheel wells are pretty much non existent. So would the best bet be to weld up patch panels on the wheel wells and re weld the bolts to it? Or is there some sort of Rear Lower Tie Bars I can add in there to support it? Any help is greatly appreciated. Also if anyone with an rt could post pictures of how under their car is that'd be great for reference.
Comments
I should say fixing it right is going to be expensive.
then Find a nut that fits the bolt, the bolt attached to the bushing that fell out. drive it over to a weld shop and show the guy
You want the nut welded to the square washer. then the washer welded to the uni-body in that location.
Parts 5$- at the store.
50$- at most from the welder.
If you just go to the auto shop its going to be over a 100$
Good luck.
Oh then get the leaf spring thing out of there.
hardware store bolt aren't as strong, basic do-it-yourself home stuff.
grade 8 are among the strongest you can buy, but
not very many hardware store carry them.
good luck to you.
having the washer welded on will hold strong but for peace of mind you could have a weld shop reinforce the area surrounding it with 1/8 inch flat stock. "Don't get me wrong it looks funky but once its welded in it will work great"
I would have to agree with the reinforcement. With that kind of rust you might find that the surround metal is also pretty weak and if you are planning on putting kids in this thing I would take every precaution to making sure that it is done right.
Thanks again for all the help guys.
Post pics of the work if you can. good luck with it brother.
Where it attaches to the body it is rusted out, correct?
Do not drive the car is is unsafe and needs some SERIOUS work, an actual qualified body repair person needs to do this. Nothing you can bolt on will help.
Basically all the stress is going into your rear shock (forward and back movement) as the Rear Trailing arm is not attached, this will cause the shock to have stress on it that is not designed to have and could well snap
:arrow:
Plus its been new unrusted bits welded in
After cutting up many cars for fire training i have found that cars dont have really not thick gauge steel, and they are really weak. if you do the above you will be fine. or just go to a welder and tell him what you want it should be 100$
If you were in cali i would get it done for you. have confidence and get it done- the more you drive it like that your tempting fait.
If you go and sell it consider that you just gave the buyer a death certificate at your expense- fucked up also
if you bought it like that go back and make the d bag flow a little cash to fix it. <---- this is what i would do if i bought it not knowing. if they dont help then its serving them with papers to make them pay because here in cali thats what everyone does.
"i would just use it as a threat usually people dont want the pain and cost of court so it persuades them"
edit- after looking closer at the pics the comment i maid "the leaf spring thing" derr-they are e brake cables. i was to caught up on the rusted out part.
the graft is a good easy way- the subframe is 1/8 thick i think so you could just grind it flat and weld the new graft on with out cutting your car. might need to replace that bushing too.
worth a shot at that scare tactic also- for time, money and putting your life at risk.
not disclosing a major issue like that is on the seller.