Lately the car has been making a clunking noise when changing direction (like backing out of a drive way, the going forward), or under light acceleration on the 1-2 shift and today it happend under moderate braking on the highway as I approached an exit ramp. So while I was changing the oil I figured I had better take a look before something bad happens.....I was hoping to find a rod end on the lower control arms gone bad or something like that. Maybe even the torque arm mount needing to be snugged up, Moser 12-bolts are known for this....
Well I was too late, this is what I found
From what I can tell happened, one of the four mounting bolts for the torque arm bracket came loose, enough so that it completely backed out. So with only one bolt providing clamping force on the top, the mount was able to pivot ever so slightly at the bottom of the bracket at the first mounting bolt (closest to the front of the car). Over time the steel probably work hardenend and finally snapped. So now I have to drop the rear and see what kind of damage was done to the threads in the mounting holes for the torque arm. Hopefully, the casting is not hurt....that would suck big time. the crack is reasonably fresh, no real rust, so this could not have been like this long and I don't drive the car alot as it is. Last time I drove it hard was at Atco on the last day of the season, maybe it broke then, but I doubt it.
Lesson here is don't put off the little things.....
Upside or at least what I am telling myself....it takes mad power to brake torque arm mounts
......Now I can put my Strano springs in, and address the pinion seal that looks to be leaking.....
Does it ever end?
Chris