Ugh. Depressing.

[TheRedBaron]

Well, the other night it snowed here, and it wasn't too bad, until I got into my neighborhood. It was about 30-45 minutes after it had gotten dark, so the bottom layer of slush was just starting to freeze, making it basically a big ice rink. I was going slow, but there's one turn I had to make that slopes downhill, away from the turn. Well, as luck would have it, it was also one giant ice patch, and I curbed my left front wheel Pretty treacherous, my roomate did the exact same thing in his jeep an hour later when he came home. The area was covered in sand the next day, I guess it is a "problem area" for ice in the neighborhood.

Anyway, now I've got some massive positive camber. The lower control arm is seriously bent, but luckily it seems to have taken the full brunt of the impact. The tie rod, spindle and upper control arm (thank goodness for that one) seem to be straight and true. Unfortunately I don't have the tools required to replace the lower control arm, nor do I have the time to go to the junkyard and then fix it this weekend Which means I have to take it to the shop. Luckily the place is close enough that I can drive there going 15 mph (there's quite a shimmy in the front end).

Ugh, and all this right before the holidays I'm pretty crestfallen, just needed to vent. Thanks for listening!

[nutcase]

Bad luck This is why I agree with those who say not to reinforce the A-Arms. A lot cheaper to replace than the front of the body

Sure you don't have the tools? Two bolts, five nuts and it's off. Reverse to replace.

[TheRedBaron]

Originally Posted by nutcase

Bad luck This is why I agree with those who say not to reinforce the A-Arms. A lot cheaper to replace than the front of the body

Sure you don't have the tools? Two bolts, five nuts and it's off. Reverse to replace.

Well those nuts on the bracket can't come off without a long socket (which I don't have).

Then there would need to be an alignment done anyway, which I can't do myself. Also, I'd rather have a more experienced set of eyes looking at the suspension parts, just to be safe, and make sure I haven't compromised anything else.

I suppose I could go to the junkyard later, and butcher some poor car trying to get an A-arm off with vise-grips and a hammer, and see what happens. But last time I was there, there was narry a c900 to be found (athough their stock does rotate fairly quickly).

Maybe I'll try it!

edit - I also don't have the 19mm or whatever size socket/wrench is needed to get off the ball joints/tie rods. maybe my buddy does, I'll call him.

THanks for the encouragement.

[TheRedBaron]

Man, saab people are the best!

oliversexpedition (local saab collector) is loaning me some tools for the weekend!

Just gotta keep my fingers crossed that theres a 900 at the yard!

[DanF.]

Good luck buddy. If I were closer I'd lend some tools and a hand. Hell, I'd bring the beer too. Lots of beer.

Dan

[woywitka]

even if you can't get one out of the yard they are $50 on eeuroparts.com I believe.


That really sucks man, we had a siilar snow here and one of the members in our Saab club came up from Washington for the meet and did a similar thing.

It happens to the best of us.

[Mag-X]

Man that sucks.

I cannot imagine what it's going to be like when it snows here. My parking lot at home is on one big, steep hill.

[woywitka]

Originally Posted by Mag-X

Man that sucks.

I cannot imagine what it's going to be like when it snows here. My parking lot at home is on one big, steep hill.

How often do does the snow reach Portland? Less than Seattle I would think?

[IronJoe]

Ugh, sorry to hear that RB.


Time to get some nordfrosts on your old 15" sunbursts!

[DanF.]

for winter, the old steel wheels do pretty good. I konw I don't car how bad they get banged up.

[900t]

Sounds like you did exactly what mikewiththespike did last year

[TheRedBaron]

Thanks for the kind words, guys! Well, I'm back. I found a 900t vert with one, it was a little rusty, and I got it 90% off, but I couldn't find the 19mm long socket that I had borrowed in my bucket, and then I got kicked out (they closed). Of course when I got back to my car, I found the dang socket in the most obvious of spots So I'm gonna get up at the butt crack of dawn tommorow and be there with the one tool i need right when they open and spend 4 minutes taking the rest of the thing off. Then rush back, put it on, all in time to watch the Bills shellack the Dolphins at 1:00!!!

Originally Posted by 900t

Sounds like you did exactly what mikewiththespike did last year

Except I was going probably 5 mph and not trying to impress anyone! Seriously, the ice made me accelerate down the hill into the curb, despite my best efforts

The heartbreaker here, though, are the two dings in my superaero. I hope I can find someone who can fix it, or at least find another one for sale.

[DanF.]

Originally Posted by TheRedBaron

Except I was going probably 5 mph and not trying to impress anyone! Seriously, the planet's gravity made me accelerate down the hill into the curb, despite my best efforts

That makes more sense.

[TheRedBaron]

Originally Posted by DanF.

That makes more sense.

Well, to compromise, let's say "the planet's gravity combined with the ice"

[IronJoe]

Originally Posted by TheRedBaron

Well, to compromise, let's say "the planet's gravity combined with the ice"

I wish you'd stop showing off in your car all the time.

[TheRedBaron]

Originally Posted by IronJoe

I wish you'd stop showing off in your car all the time.

Ok fine, there were three high school girls on the corner. I yelled out the window "Hey, ladies, you know who erik carlsson is?!?!" tried to left foot brake around the corner at high speed, and proceeded to sh*t the bed into the curb.

I can still hear them laughing.

[deniss]

where do you support your car with the jack-stands when you replace the lower control arm? whenever i have the car up on the jacks, i always anchor them against one of the lower control arm mounts... for a lower control arm repair, i cant imagine where i'd put the jack stands...

[TooMany2cvs]

Originally Posted by TheRedBaron

Ok fine, there were three high school girls on the corner. I yelled out the window "Hey, ladies, you know who erik carlsson is?!?!" tried to left foot brake around the corner at high speed, and proceeded to sh*t the bed into the curb.

I can still hear them laughing.

Quite. EVERYbody knows that if you're going to imitate Erik, you have to roll the damn thing. He didn't get known as Erik-on-the-roof for nothing.

Honestly. Amateurs.

[TheRedBaron]

Deniss, the car at the junkyard was just supported by tires, but when I do my car I will just use factory mounting points on the side of the car with maybe a backup stand up front.

Originally Posted by TooMany2cvs

Quite. EVERYbody knows that if you're going to imitate Erik, you have to roll the damn thing. He didn't get known as Erik-on-the-roof for nothing.

Honestly. Amateurs.

Hahahahahahaha you're too much!

[SteveTheFolkie]

Originally Posted by TheRedBaron

Ok fine, there were three high school girls on the corner. I yelled out the window "Hey, ladies, you know who erik carlsson is?!?!" tried to left foot brake around the corner at high speed, and proceeded to sh*t the bed into the curb.

I can still hear them laughing.

so I'm not the only one known for "grace under pressure" eh?

Sorry to hear of your mis-adventure RB - hope you got it all sorted out - I feel like a real sh1t for not reading this earlier and coming down to help you out -

Have a great holiday

steve