snapped lower control arm

Submitted: Saturday, Nov 25, 2006 at 16:11

ThreadID: 39764 Views:2819 Replies:7 FollowUps:4

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98nav

g'day all
i was just driving to local shops when i heard a crrunch and the front drivers side dropped to the ground , wheel pushed back into gaurd and ground to a halt , i was doing about 50 kph . scared the hell out of the family, it seems the lower control arm has snapped in half. bugger . has this sort of thing happened to anyone else ? is it just a navara thing ? what would be the cause of this ? i'v owned the car for 1 yr and never hit anything .
any advise help or opinions would be most welcome. 98nav

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Reply By: guzzi - Saturday, Nov 25, 2006 at 17:26

Saturday, Nov 25, 2006 at 17:26

Glad to hear no-one was injured.
1998?
No its not a navara thing, IFS 100 series toyos maybe.
Where exactly did it snap?
Possible causes are many,
Modified lifted suspension?
If unmodified nissan may have a problem but its 8 yrs old, if second hand possible damage from previous owner or someone has possibly modified it or welded it.
Or most likely its copped a thump at some time and corrosion and fatigue has done the rest.
This isnt a common event, thank god.
It would be nice to get the remains checked by an automotive engineer or metalurgist but that costs money, thats up to you and whether you want too or can take the matter further.
Good luck

AnswerID: 206861

Reply By: 98nav - Saturday, Nov 25, 2006 at 18:03

Saturday, Nov 25, 2006 at 18:03

thanks for feedback guzzi
no it has no modifications to suspension , from what i can tell it snapped right through the area where the ball joint sits in the control arm . what you say makes sense about previos owner possibly hitting somthing . thanks mate

AnswerID: 206865

Reply By: Oldsquizzy (Kununurra) - Saturday, Nov 25, 2006 at 19:20

Saturday, Nov 25, 2006 at 19:20

Check the other side as well. Usually caused by a big bounce, washout floodway hit way to fast, Arm hits bottom stop and wheel keeps trying to go up, Bends the end of arm and weakens it.

AnswerID: 206871

Reply By: 98nav - Saturday, Nov 25, 2006 at 19:32

Saturday, Nov 25, 2006 at 19:32

great explanation squizzy
that allso makes a lot of sense , i can picture exactly what you mean, i'v just about pulled the control arm off and noticed another crack 50mm/2inch long at the base where the bottom of the shock bolts to the lower control arm. so it looks like i will be checking the other side very closely and then getting the local mechanic to double check for me.
thanks mate

AnswerID: 206872

Reply By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Saturday, Nov 25, 2006 at 20:07

Saturday, Nov 25, 2006 at 20:07

The 90series Prados were doing something similar, but the problem was that the lower ball joints were defective and coming apart. Makes a huge mess of the front end. Toyota did a recall. Haven't heard of this with the Navara.

AnswerID: 206875

Follow Up By: 98nav - Saturday, Nov 25, 2006 at 21:42

Saturday, Nov 25, 2006 at 21:42

thanks phil
each bit of info makes me feel a bit better, by the way love your cruiserif only i could get one in duel cab, maybe 5yrs from now.

FollowupID: 466861

Follow Up By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Saturday, Nov 25, 2006 at 22:40

Saturday, Nov 25, 2006 at 22:40

Yep, we like the setup - its a good way to travel once the kids are grown up - nothing to unpack - just pull up at camp, open the sides and you're set for the night. It will be interesting to see what the new troopie will be like.

FollowupID: 466878

Reply By: Eric Experience. - Saturday, Nov 25, 2006 at 21:29

Saturday, Nov 25, 2006 at 21:29

98 nav.
Talking to a mate in Erica in Vic. about 2 years ago, he mentioned that some navaras were being tested in the bush there and 2 of them broke the bottom wishbone on the same test . Nissan will know about it. Eric.

AnswerID: 206886