I'm a genius... (not really) - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

haux · 06-14-2010, 10:49 PM

A week or so ago, while doing some work, I removed my front strut brace, and then I forgot to put the nuts back onto the strut mounts. Clearly I didn't realize it at the time.

Today, I hit a big bump/hole near some construction for a highway. I heard thumping shortly after, and after some investigating I saw that the front left strut mount studs were gone.

I understand that if the car is raised, for example, the strut will fall right out of the body. What I would like to know is, will driving around like this put excess strain on other suspension components in that corner?

It's been raining, so I may not even be able to replace the mount tomorrow.

haux · 06-15-2010, 02:57 AM

Hajoca · 06-15-2010, 08:10 AM

You are driving with the front end misaligned, and yes that will strain all the joints (bushings, etc.)

rusty9 · 06-15-2010, 08:47 AM

lol are you really going to drive around with a strut thats not connected to the body?

going for a darwin award?

haux · 06-15-2010, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rusty9

lol are you really going to drive around with a strut thats not connected to the body?

going for a darwin award?

Ok. Come give me a ride then.

Chris Crash · 06-15-2010, 02:53 PM

Yes that will damage things. Just jack the front end up and wiggle it back in place and put the nuts on!

Sorry if it's raining, but you really should not drive around like that. Would you rather get wet or total your car?

73sport · 06-15-2010, 02:55 PM

He likes variable steering!

Bummer man. . . Do you have the nuts?

Jack up both front tires at the same time (anti-sway bar will fight you if you don't), with a flashlight pull the strut down, rotate and shove it up in the holes. Should only take time to jack the car. I can't imagine it would push the studs out of the upper bearing, but you can bet its trying to tweak your strut by not loading the bearing evenly, and/or trash the bearing asm. Maybe keep a long prybar handy to force the assembly up if you leave the wheel on.

Will you crash and die, I doubt it, but its not helping the bearing and strut too much.

haux · 06-15-2010, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Crash

Just jack the front end up and wiggle it back in place and put the nuts on!

The studs from the front left mount snapped off. They didn't just slip out of the holes. I already put the nuts back on the other side.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 73sport

He likes variable steering!

The steering is actually fine. There's just a but of thumping over every bump because the mount is not attached to the body.

haux · 06-15-2010, 03:19 PM

Well thanks for the information.

It didn't rain today, so I may be able to do the work. Even though I just replaced them around new year, I'm surprised how expensive these damn things are. I thought I remembered them being a bit cheaper.

$70 for Gabriel's at AutoZone? Give me an effing break.

73sport · 06-15-2010, 03:31 PM

They are just pushed in to the bearing (maybe spot welded but I doubt it). Are you sure they didn't get pushed out or can you see where they actually got snapped?

Worst case for the bolt is when it tries to support the entire weight of the car on 1, 2, or 3 of the bolt heads. This type of force although it sounds like allot is not the kind of thing to "shear a bolt off". It may bend, knarl it up but IMO wouldn't break it. It would pop it out or bend the housing its in as the body and the housing rely on each other for strength.

Can you get a partial visual on it through the hole in the tower?

haux · 06-15-2010, 03:56 PM

If they are just pushed out (and not bent), wouldn't that corner of the body be sitting 1-2 inches higher than the other?

Also, the part of the mount that attaches to the strut would he pushed in a bit... and in this case, it's not. It's sitting just as high and straight as the right side.

I'll take a photo.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 73sport

They are just pushed in to the bearing (maybe spot welded but I doubt it). Are you sure they didn't get pushed out or can you see where they actually got snapped?

Worst case for the bolt is when it tries to support the entire weight of the car on 1, 2, or 3 of the bolt heads. This type of force although it sounds like allot is not the kind of thing to "shear a bolt off". It may bend, knarl it up but IMO wouldn't break it. It would pop it out or bend the housing its in as the body and the housing rely on each other for strength.

Can you get a partial visual on it through the hole in the tower?

Chris Crash · 06-15-2010, 05:50 PM

Oh god. They snapped? Jesus. I thought they just slipped out!

***JohnGD*** · 06-16-2010, 01:44 AM

They should be like wheel studs, with serrated bolts pressed into the mounts?

***LynchburgCSI*** · 06-16-2010, 02:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rusty9

lol are you really going to drive around with a strut thats not connected to the body?

going for a darwin award?

haux · 06-16-2010, 04:50 AM

rusty9 & LynchburgCSI, if you don't have anything helpful or comical to say, click the little x in the upper right/left of the window and go back to your porn.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Crash

Oh god. They snapped? Jesus. I thought they just slipped out!

After some further investigating today, I can see that the studs have indeed partially snapped off. The mount has shifted a little bit, and the remaining nubs of the studs have made small dents in that mounting portion of the body. I will be replacing the mount today, and I'll take a photo of what it looks like.

JohnGD, I'm not sure if the studs can be replaced. I haven't seen mount studs sold anywhere, so I imagine if it is indeed possible, they may be difficult to find? ...and difficult to replace.