Cracked Strut Towers

[siiick]

Hi all i have used this forum to find help but cannot find any on this topic.

I have just noticed cracks in welds on both front strut towers. Have not taken it to a mechanic to check. Any reccomendations?

[LTHLRB]

have you cleaned up any gutters at all?

[siiick]

Yes just recently, just got a wheel balance and allignment. suspension is in top order. was using stock rims with cheap fat tyres they seemed to take all the impact.

Getting it welded again is my only option i believe and maybe not go over any large speed bumps in any hurry.

Edited June 28, 2006 by siiick

[LTHLRB]

usually if u hit a gutter hard enough it can/will crack your strut tower. But you have cracks in both your strut towers.. aftermarket weld marks?

[siiick]

no weld marks that i can see, but both of them are cracked similiar amounts, about 3cm long.

[Sydneykid]

Cracks are usually a good indication of the car being too low or having too high spring rates. If it is a lower than 350 mm front and 340 mm rear, centre of wheel to guard, then that’s a good place to start. If it is higher than that, then the next is to check the spring rates, there is a sticky (above) on how to measure the dimensions of the springs so that I can tell you the rates.

Sperical bearings in the strut tops can also contribute to cracking.

cheers

[siiick]

Thanks sydneykid i checked the height and all is within those ranges i don't believe it is because of this or my little slip with the gutter.

Here is a picture of what is happening.

Basically it is a small crack at the top and a bit of rust is forming, i have seen this on a number of 33's, is it serious?

crack_in_top_strut.bmp

Edited June 30, 2006 by siiick

[Rossman]

i've got the same thing in my s2 R33.... is it serious???

- Ross.