Is this safe to drive?

[eltax91]

Hi guys

I have a 2008 Honda Accord and was out on Sunday for lunch when Baby Eltax fell asleep on the return journey. No problem says the wife, I will drop you at home and go and see my mum, and off she pops.

Upon her return, she hands me the keys and says "sorry darling, I bumped up a kerb and now there's a funny knocking noise". I took it out for a spin and there is a small knock when you go over a bump on the drivers front wheel, doesn't sound serious.

So, before I impart VBRJ, I thought I'd whip the wheel off and have a look. I was confronted with what appears to be a now very much broken ARB link:-



Now, I can see the 4 lugs on the bush and the 4 holes in the bar, and I've tried to jack the bottom arm up and managed to persuade it back together, using a lump hammer and a punch. However, as soon as it comes under load again it pops right back off. The noise appears to be the roll bar flapping about the place! I've attempted to remove it, thinking I could cycle to a parts place locally and replace it, but both nuts just keep on turning. My ball joint splitters won't fit and it's time to take it to a professional.

Question is, can I drive it to a garage like this? Or is it time to get the mobile guy out (he's more expensive and less reliable IME)

Cheers

Eltax

[kambites]

If it's just the anti-roll bar and you drive sensibly, it'll be fine as long as it doesn't hit and break another component of the suspension.

[eltax91]

kambites said:

If it's just the anti-roll bar and you drive sensibly, it'll be fine as long as it doesn't hit and break another component of the suspension.

Hmmm, you think it's worth bending the bar over and securing it to the bottom ARM with a tie wrap?

[Krikkit]

eltax91 said:

kambites said:

If it's just the anti-roll bar and you drive sensibly, it'll be fine as long as it doesn't hit and break another component of the suspension.

Hmmm, you think it's worth bending the bar over and securing it to the bottom ARM with a tie wrap?

No. Drive carefully (and slowly) and it should be fine, the clearance should be sufficient as long as the suspension doesn't bottom out.

[Greg_D]

as above, you'll be absolutely fine, the ARBs don't do anything unless the car is in roll. If you drive steadily round the corners (ie minimal roll) they won't even move around much, you'll be fine, take it to the garage

[kambites]

Indeed, doesn't look from that picture (although it's hard to tell) as if there is anything fragile around it. Drive carefully, espicially over bumps and around corners, and you'll be fine.

[jamieduff1981]

You'll be fine for a while. I had a similar issue a while back and pushed the balljoint back together and lashed it together with half a dozen beefy tie-wraps. I drove like that for about 5 days whilst the new droplinks came in the post and the tiewraps held it together just fine. Don't go hammering down cobbled streets or doing track days like that, obviously.

If you keep it in mind and be sensible, you'll be fine in the short term.

[eltax91]

Thanks chaps.

My preferred (trusted) mechanic is 50 miles away up the M1, I'm due up there on Thursday to visit a client, a step too far?

Also, replace these in pairs?

[Rickyy]

Providing the nuts aren't seized, they are very easy to replace. Would take less than an hour to do at home.

[eltax91]

Rickyy said:

Providing the nuts aren't seized, they are very easy to replace. Would take less than an hour to do at home.

As described in my OP, they are. I got the nut loose but the "inner" just turns and turns. Can't get any grip on it at all.

[davepoth]

For something this basic, I wouldn't be too concerned about using a different garage. Probably better than slogging up the motorway with it loose, anyway.

[jamieduff1981]

eltax91 said:

Thanks chaps.

My preferred (trusted) mechanic is 50 miles away up the M1, I'm due up there on Thursday to visit a client, a step too far?

Also, replace these in pairs?

Well I did over 200 miles of commuting with mine strapped together with tie-wraps, so 50 miles up a motorway shouldn't be an issue.

There's probably a Torx or Allen Key head or socket on the end of the balljoint's stud to hold it still while you turn the nut with a spanner, if there isn't a flat on the other side of the ARB/MacPherson Strut lug.

[bennyboysvuk]

This occurred on the front of my old E30. It made the handling feel a bit more floaty at speed as I recall, but didn't stop me driving it in my usual fashion during my journey.

[NadiR]

You'll be fine, as long as you don't drive it in VTEC y0 mode.

[eltax91]

NadiR said:

You'll be fine, as long as you don't drive it in VTEC y0 mode.

[mikeveal]

eltax91 said:

As described in my OP, they are. I got the nut loose but the "inner" just turns and turns. Can't get any grip on it at all.

It'll do that.
Push back the rubber sleeve and put some mole grips or a monkey wrench on it. Doesn't matter if you gouge the metal on the old part, the old part is buggered.

[Lawbags]

Piss easy to get off, even with it spinning.
Either mangle grind the nut off, or you need to get pressure on the ball inside the housing bit to stop it spinning.
Either a set of mole grips or massive set of swan necks will work.

[cheesesliceking]

eltax91 said:

As described in my OP, they are. I got the nut loose but the "inner" just turns and turns. Can't get any grip on it at all.

Tdoes the inner have a hex head or allen key head on it by any chance?

[TheInternet]

You should be able to remove the equivalent link from the other side to completely detach it from the suspension movement. If you then position it out of the way it'll be fine.

[jamieduff1981]

Looks like there's a flat to get an open ended spanner on actually - looking at the photo.