New MINI Suspension failure
Discussion
I don´t know the circumstances of the failure but looking at the photo the impression is that some sort of excessive compressive load has been applied along the axis of the arm to cause it to buckle like that.
As far as the Hyundai balljoint is concerned, again without knowing the full circumstances of the failure, it’s difficult to understand how a corroded suspension arm could cause a balljoint failure. What can happen is that the rubber garter becomes damaged allowing water etc into the joint, the ball surface starts to corrode and pit, the articulation torque then rises resulting in a fatigue failure at the neck of the ball.
Quality standards in terms of the test regime and manufacturing process are much higher these days
As far as the Hyundai balljoint is concerned, again without knowing the full circumstances of the failure, it’s difficult to understand how a corroded suspension arm could cause a balljoint failure. What can happen is that the rubber garter becomes damaged allowing water etc into the joint, the ball surface starts to corrode and pit, the articulation torque then rises resulting in a fatigue failure at the neck of the ball.
Quality standards in terms of the test regime and manufacturing process are much higher these days
Looks like it's had a sideways kerb to wheel hit at some point in the past.
I do vaguely remember something about these on early cars as I know I checked them on mine before I bought it (2001 Cooper). I had it 4 years and it's now with my brother and his family so will get him to check his to be safe.
I do vaguely remember something about these on early cars as I know I checked them on mine before I bought it (2001 Cooper). I had it 4 years and it's now with my brother and his family so will get him to check his to be safe.
s m said:
fareaster said:
I don´t know the circumstances of the failure but looking at the photo the impression is that some sort of excessive compressive load has been applied along the axis of the arm to cause it to buckle like that.
Trolley jack in wrong place?They are actually supposed to fail like that !! Thats why you didn't roll!
If track control arms are made very stiff, they fail catastrophically, leading to the wheel/tyre tucking under and generally a roll. Hence they are made of steel, with pre determined failure mode. However, to fail like that, it will have been either:
1) previously hit sideways into a kerb (generally puts a little bend into the two members (they get a bit "bowlegged"
2) as mentioned ^^^ someones used a trolley jack under it and bent it
Once they have an inital little bend due to a prior incident 1 or 2 above, they then start to flex, and fatigue. Generally, some time later they then fail in a more noticable way, resulting in some pretty mad toe/camber angle on the wheel! But, the wheels does not become seperated from the car. hence you are still here to tell the tale ;-)
If track control arms are made very stiff, they fail catastrophically, leading to the wheel/tyre tucking under and generally a roll. Hence they are made of steel, with pre determined failure mode. However, to fail like that, it will have been either:
1) previously hit sideways into a kerb (generally puts a little bend into the two members (they get a bit "bowlegged"
2) as mentioned ^^^ someones used a trolley jack under it and bent it
Once they have an inital little bend due to a prior incident 1 or 2 above, they then start to flex, and fatigue. Generally, some time later they then fail in a more noticable way, resulting in some pretty mad toe/camber angle on the wheel! But, the wheels does not become seperated from the car. hence you are still here to tell the tale ;-)
Yea, they're the mechanical version of a fuse, they'll bend before anything else does.
One thing that's very likely to do that is being strapped down on a recovery truck with the straps over the arms.
They are sitting there in full view and look like easy spot to tie down, but it doesn't take much of a dent or buckle to get it started, and would do two of them more likely than each wheel being banging into something.
One thing that's very likely to do that is being strapped down on a recovery truck with the straps over the arms.
They are sitting there in full view and look like easy spot to tie down, but it doesn't take much of a dent or buckle to get it started, and would do two of them more likely than each wheel being banging into something.
Max_Torque said:
They are actually supposed to fail like that !! Thats why you didn't roll!
If track control arms are made very stiff, they fail catastrophically, leading to the wheel/tyre tucking under and generally a roll. Hence they are made of steel, with pre determined failure mode. However, to fail like that, it will have been either:
1) previously hit sideways into a kerb (generally puts a little bend into the two members (they get a bit "bowlegged"
2) as mentioned ^^^ someones used a trolley jack under it and bent it
Once they have an inital little bend due to a prior incident 1 or 2 above, they then start to flex, and fatigue. Generally, some time later they then fail in a more noticable way, resulting in some pretty mad toe/camber angle on the wheel! But, the wheels does not become seperated from the car. hence you are still here to tell the tale ;-)
Generally track rod control arms and similar suspension components are steel pressings or forgings but its also quite common to see aluminium forgings on the exotica.If track control arms are made very stiff, they fail catastrophically, leading to the wheel/tyre tucking under and generally a roll. Hence they are made of steel, with pre determined failure mode. However, to fail like that, it will have been either:
1) previously hit sideways into a kerb (generally puts a little bend into the two members (they get a bit "bowlegged"
2) as mentioned ^^^ someones used a trolley jack under it and bent it
Once they have an inital little bend due to a prior incident 1 or 2 above, they then start to flex, and fatigue. Generally, some time later they then fail in a more noticable way, resulting in some pretty mad toe/camber angle on the wheel! But, the wheels does not become seperated from the car. hence you are still here to tell the tale ;-)
I have often been amused by the explanations given for a "vehicle leaving the road". On one occasion the son of the owner of the car claimed that while cornering the tie rod broke causing the very expensive accident. Maybe his father believed him but I certainly didn´t when I examined the components - it was quite clear that the vehicle left the road and the tie rod broke as it over articulated when it hit a kerb!
Fish981 said:
s m said:
fareaster said:
I don´t know the circumstances of the failure but looking at the photo the impression is that some sort of excessive compressive load has been applied along the axis of the arm to cause it to buckle like that.
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