Re: Strut bearings...toast? (Macon, GA SUCKS!)

[16V Jason <jason@scirocco.org>]

Guys,
         You'll probably remember a similar incident with me 2 years 
ago.  I hit a ditch that PennDOT had dug across the road to replace a gas 
pipe and then filled it on Thursday with gravel.  This was Sunday and 
needless to say, the gravel had sunk.

         No bent rims thank God (TSWs are heavy as hell, but the 15"s hold 
up) but two blown shocks, cracked strut bearings, and a broken windshield 
was the result.  I called PennDOT and reported it, they sent me forms.  I 
sent the forms in with 2 estimates for $1200 (list prices, dontcha know) 
and pictures.  They sent an adjuster out who looked at the car.  Long story 
short I got $500 out of them.  Not enough to cover the damage completely, 
but close enough.

         Neal, get on them.  The problem that you'll encounter is that most 
cars wouldn't have a problem on 2" expansion joint, so you'll need to 
explain that from the factory, these cars have less than 2" of suspension 
travel.  Don't expressly say that your car has been dropped at all.  Call 
the Georgia DOT and they'll lead you in the right direction on how to get 
some money back from them.  Your car insurance company may also be able to 
help.

         Good luck and sorry to hear of your misfortune. :(

Oh -- and by the way, my unqualified guess is that it's just your strut 
bearings.

Jason




At 03:00 PM 8/13/2001 , Brian McGarvey wrote:
>Hey Neal.
>Dude that really sucks. I would get in touch with the GA DOT and tell them
>about the damage. I believe the contractor is responsible for the damage,
>but im not positive. Micheal A. hit a plate in ATL and bent some stuff and
>Bellsouth had to pay for the damage.
>Brian
>
>
>On Mon, 13 Aug 2001, Neal Tovsen wrote:
>
> > Well, on the way home from Brian's house the other day, I managed to find a
> > 2", un-ramped pavement join at 60mph on the 475 bypass around Macon, GA.
> >
> > All 4 OZ wheels: bent
> > Windshield: was slightly cracked...now REALLY cracked
> > Other damage...? (still finding stuff)
> >
> > Needless to say, I'm not happy. What really irritates me is that the
> > northbound lanes on the way there were really nicely ramped, even in the
> > construction zone, giving me a false sense of security on my way home. The
> > only redeeming factor is that the tires held together and got me home. 
> Those
> > Yokohamas are seriously tough. The alignment seems mostly OK, the normal
> > stress cracks in the strut towers aren't any worse (thanks to the Autotech
> > tower bar with the full ring!), the ball-joints are good, and the shocks
> > still feel OK. However, what was once a loud car on the highway became
> > hell-on-square-wheels for the remaining 6 hours of my trip. I put my old
> > teardrops on when I got home.
> >
> > Anyway, I do have a question:
> > The passenger-side strut (bearing?) has slop in it. With the car jacked-up,
> > I can lift the strut up-and-down a little bit in the bearing. You can see
> > the nut move in the bearing, as though it's loose. I thought the nut might
> > have been loose, but my impact wrench was unable to make it any 
> tighter, and
> > the threads on the strut seem OK. Is my strut bearing blown? Or did I screw
> > up my Konis somehow too? Please tell me it is only the bearing!
> >
> > Neal
> >
> >
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> >
>
>
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