Lower arm failure... another one

[miller]

One more to the growing list, again at very low speed thankfully. Reversing into car parking space and booomf.

Quote from subsequent garage who have it still is quite large as it incorporated all new items from Mitsubishi incl wing and bumper. AA dropped it when lifting it off the low loader from what i can gather which has produced the bumper like it is.

Incl in the qoute is a new driveshaft. This garage is highly recommended and well known in the EVO world, are stating it needs replacing, the guy i was speaking to is ralliart trained and had 20plus years experience with Mitsubishi and has seen all this before. So i dare'nt argue with that

Whats your thoughts on this? to those that have seen this before?
Will the drive shaft go back in?
If so will it need just a new gaitor?

So coupled with the above, a new lower arm together with alignment should see this safely back on the road until the wrangling bewteen owner and AA is sorted for bodywork damages?

[White Lightning]

Ouch ...!

Any ideas who the lower arm was supplied by?

I can't tell from the photos ... has the spider assy on the end of the driveshaft leg been damaged?

[miller]

i think its an original part at the moment. furher investigation needed.

Im not sure in the end condition of the drive shaft as i couldnt get under the car, these pics are taken just holding the camera under it. This one you can slightly see end of it...

[White Lightning]

I still can't see the spider, sorry.

Original part eh? That's scary if it was ...

[sanct]

Oww at least you weren't at pace.
Had it shown any signs of wear either with noise or stiffness of steering before hand?

[Ryan]

I'm pleased that you walked away from this Mike. Just one question, isn't your car grey though?

The one in the pic seems to be FL and trigger mauve colour?

[Davezj]

gutted for you miller.

makes me want to get my recal done soon.

the outer end of the drive shaft doesn't look too good as this should be held in place very well as this has a proper constant velocity joint under the boot, but the inner end can be pulled out quite easily with out any damage apart from the need for a new boot.
personally i would get a second hand drive shaft and a new mitsi lower arm and that should get you back on the road.

[elnevio]

Not Mike's car, but a friend's. I could have sworn he mentioned that in his post, but I can't see it now? I think I'm going mad...

[scott.mohekey]

Not Mike's car, but a friend's. I could have sworn he mentioned that in his post, but I can't see it now? I think I'm going mad...

I thought the same Nev, but he replied to Brad's post about lower arms and mentioned it there.

[miller]

Nevs right, its a friends motor and i mentioned in another thread of Brads about it.

[wintertidenz]

That's a bit scary - how many miles/km did that genuine arm have on it? Sounds like these arms almost need to be done as a service item every time the cambelt is done!

[Nutter_John]

Thats a lot of distortion on the driveshaft , I don't think from that viewing angle that it is wise to try and re-use it .

[orionn2o]

Its down to luck Mike.

The first time I had a ball joint go, we re-used the same drive shaft . The second time, it got ruined.. Sorry to see it happen, I would be interested to hear if there were symptoms beforehand?

[orionn2o]

i think its an original part at the moment. furher investigation needed.

Im not sure in the end condition of the drive shaft as i couldnt get under the car, these pics are taken just holding the camera under it. This one you can slightly see end of it...

Would certainly be interested to know Mike if its a part supplied from Nipparts via Camskill.

Since I have a claim with them pending, another case would be benificial.

[miller]

the car i think is near 100k in miles. Doubt any symptons were recognised but i will ask the question of him. Its a car he gets in and drives, music up and away he goes.

Interestingly its running uprated boost at 0.9bar and no sign of a boost controller anywhere.

Mike

[Eurospec]

The angle on the CV looks pretty extreme- that prolly is minced.

A new drive shaft is properly expensive, a 2nd hand one is okay as long as its in good condition.

New OEM lower arm though- that is the 'normal' failure.

Cheers,

Ben.

[bradc]

Ben et al, do you guys find that failures happen more on the curved or straight arms?

[sanct]

Ben et al, do you guys find that failures happen more on the curved or straight arms?

Apparently straight.... Having taken my VR4 to see Ben twice for wear on the lower straights.

[Eurospec]

Indeed, straight.

The banana (da der da da- sorry) arms dont seem such an issuse. When the ball joint goes you get a definate clonking to warn you. Straight arms normally give you heavy steering, then creaking, then falling off when you need it least.

Cheers,

Ben.

[bradc]

I've replaced 2 curved, 2 straight and I need to replace another 1 curved and 1 straight at the moment, so for me it is about 50/50. Note though I haven't had a failure, just heard noises and then replaced them.