Broken upper rear control arm

[Mikerider]

Hey guys had a bit of a weird issue today with the expo, backing into a parking spot at my apartment the rear upper control arm let go and dropped the rear wheel.

Background - 03 NBX 4x4 4.6l with 95k wheel bearings and struts changed less then 4000 miles ago

pics of what happened

Had it towed to the dealer and we will see what they say in the morning.

Any one experience this at all? I can't imagine how bad it would have been if it had happened on the freeway.

 

[Ocean Pacific]

Wow, very lucky that didn't happen at speed. You didn't hit the curb hard there as you were backing up did you? You say struts/bearings were replaced 4K ago, makes me wonder if everything was put back together correctly or if there was damage done.

 

[Mikerider]

Wow, very lucky that didn't happen at speed. You didn't hit the curb hard there as you were backing up did you? You say struts/bearings were replaced 4K ago, makes me wonder if everything was put back together correctly or if there was damage done.

No wasn't from the curb, or abuse ( I have my truck for my backcountry needs) it failed 10 feet forward of the parking spot as I turned around to back in. then I limped it into the spot.

I was wondering if some damage was caused by the work done, I had noticed when we first got the car back that the upper control arm was marred up around the upper ball joint when did the rear brakes.

 

[Ronin8002]

Might just be a fluke...like some imperfection in the casting....or it failed from some kind of damage, as was said already.

I remember seeing some pics of a 3rd gen baja race explorer and the rear suspension still was using the stock rear upper control arm...if it's good enough for them I figure it's good enough for what most other people use it for....that's why I wonder if it was a bad casting.

 

[Mikerider]

Might just be a fluke...like some imperfection in the casting....or it failed from some kind of damage, as was said already.

I remember seeing some pics of a 3rd gen baja race explorer and the rear suspension still was using the stock rear upper control arm...if it's good enough for them I figure it's good enough for what most other people use it for....that's why I wonder if it was a bad casting.

Ya Im a materials engineer so I plan to do some analysis on the control arm once we get it taken care of, should be able to tell fairly easily if it was a cast flaw, fatigue or from damage caused by a repair.

 

[04 EDGE]

My guess would be damage caused from repair!

 

[guilateen]

i bet they used a torch to easily remove old balljoints and fatigued the arm. between the heat, pressure from the press, and or impact of removal that can happen. has your girlfriend or wife been driving it they tend to do bad things to vehicles then give u the, oohh btw.

 

[guilateen]

oops no ball joint work done still blame girlfriend.

 

[Mikerider]

oops no ball joint work done still blame girlfriend.

Ha wasn't that, girlfriend is a great driver and takes good care of her car.

Looks like around $1100 worth of damage, the dealer here says it could have been anything but may have been from faulty repairs. Should hear from the dealership that did the work tomorrow and see what they say. from looking at the arm, it has been cracked for a while and finally let go.

 

[tower]

My guess would be damage caused from repair!

This...

When they did the bearing they had to get the ball joint out of the knuckle and that is not easy. I would bet they cracked it while forcing it out.

 

[Mikerider]

Update! The dealer that did the strut and wheel bearing work is going to pay for all the parts for the repair and have them shipped to the dealer doing the repair work. All in all fairly happy with the result should only cost me a few bucks for labor.

 

[Explorer Pete]

Just my 2cents. "only cost a few bucks for labor", have you seen the price for labor at the steelerships, I got an idea that it will run you about $200 to $300. Might want to press the issue. They screw up, They pay cost of repair. But that is my 2 cents.

 

[Mikerider]

Just my 2cents. "only cost a few bucks for labor", have you seen the price for labor at the steelerships, I got an idea that it will run you about $200 to $300. Might want to press the issue. They screw up, They pay cost of repair. But that is my 2 cents.

If it had happened on the freeway I would probably press the issue but then I would have to bring it to their dealer and thats a 300 mile tow bill, which will be more then the 200 in labor to have it done here. plus I need the car ASAP and don't have time to get it to the other side of the state. I am just happy they are picking up the parts bill saves me $900+. they could have easily said nope not our fault and not covered anything.

 

[E.T.]

I damaged mine with a maul trying to get the old knuckle out, it just snapped coming down a mountain. Drove 25 miles before I realised, pretty happy I'm not dead!