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Catastrophic failure...


SiNNERZ34

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Pictures coming monday...

Basically, ball joint went kaput, axle tore out of the tranny, tire smashed the fender. Possible bent a-arm, bent strut, etc. etc. I need to order some parts by Monday.

 

What company has front lowering springs for a 93 Z34? I've heard Suspension Techniques makes them...but who sells them? JCWhitney is confusing...only lists them for 95+ luminas. Will those fit?

What kind of performance struts are available...KYB? Koni?

Any other HD suspension goodies? Since the suspension is torn to hell may as well replace it with good stuff...

Also, any feedback on FFP rear lowering kit? Worth the $450?

Appreciate any help that may be offered.

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http://www.w-body.com/upgrades/suspension-springs.html

 

Check out the main site sometime. It has plenty of useful info on our cars :wink:

 

http://www.w-body.com

 

 

FWIW, I ordered the Suspension Techniques springs from JC Shitney last year (the front set for a 95-99 Monte/Lumina) and after waiting for nearly 3 months, they sent me a letter stating that the line was discontinued...

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I think the ST springs were only sold as a set for both the front and rear of '95+ Luminas/Montes. The front springs still fit our older cars, but the rears won't. There was a group buy a while ago for just the springs.

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Thanks for the help. Haven't looked at the main site in years...found some Eibachs. Any idea on better struts? Do the poly bushings that summit sells for luminas (x motor not listed, so i assume up to 3.1 lumis) work on a z34?

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Any warning signs that this was going to happen?

 

I'm sure that ball joint had to be clunking some long before it crapped out. Also, the steering probably didn't feel quite like normal("tight" spots in the steering are usually associated with a ball joint that's wore & binding).

 

 

SiNNERZ34, how fast were you going when this happened? You're lucky that the car only got messed up as bad as it did. A wheel seperating on the highway could be fatal...

 

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Any warning signs that this was going to happen?

 

I'm sure that ball joint had to be clunking some long before it crapped out. Also, the steering probably didn't feel quite like normal("tight" spots in the steering are usually associated with a ball joint that's wore & binding).

 

 

SiNNERZ34, how fast were you going when this happened? You're lucky that the car only got messed up as bad as it did. A wheel seperating on the highway could be fatal...

 

 

No shit, how could you let a balljoint get so bad?

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back from vacation...

 

someone didn't torque something down right or something, going to see the guy tomorrow. what broke was a bolt stud(s) or something.. had shitty signal on the island so i didnt catch all of it. haven't personally inspected the broken balljoint yet (since it was wreckage when i left for SC).

 

Happened at night and only had a cameraphone, so the on-the-scene pics aren't worth looking at, even with flash and night shot. This one old sherriff deputy sat there with me for 2+ hours (car in suicide lane) while AAAssholes sent the wrong tow truck to the wrong Publix. Finally got a flatbed about 10:30pm (missed a barbeque dammit). Left town the next day...shop called friday and told me they were replacing the balljoint, axle, and tire free of charge since they think they screwed it up (call got choppy here). Somehow the suspension survived, but I'm still going to get KYBs and new springs. It's all back to stock at the moment, but goodies are coming. Will take pics of my poor mangled fender tomorrow, and maybe of the damaged parts.

 

Was going approx. 15mph while turning into Publix when the failure occured. Only warning was feeling something go jinky about 30 seconds before and the steering wheel tipped to the left while going straight. Was puling over to see what the fuck happened when it snapped completely. Had to push it halfway out of an oncoming lane...luckily 2 guys stopped and helped...hard to push on 3 wheels and 1 pile of bent crap.

 

As for "letting it get so bad"...everything in the front end was double-checked when the new motor went in. there was nothing wrong with it. This happened 2 days later.

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