I drive a 1994 Olds Eighty-Eight LSS. Last week when i was backing out of my driveway, one of the lower control arms on my front drivers side wheel rusted completely off the frame. This is not a surprise, as my car has been rotting for quite awhile, but I just want to know of it's needed for safety concerns. Yes, I know the car will not ride as smoothly, or as "together", but is it a safety concern? I only plan to drive the car around to look for a new one and get to work, which is only a few miles away. It's time for a new car anyway, so repairing it is not a #1 issue. Thank you.
2006-12-24 08:39:07 · 8 answers · asked by schwiggity 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Safety
On strut type suspsensions, I suppose it's possible the car may remain in a semi-drivable state with no lower control arm, but a car with no lower control arm can do truly terrifying things. Like steer itself to one side - hard - when you hit the brakes.
Or have the whole thing collapse and grind to a halt on the pavement, as right now you have only somewhere between one and four bolts holding that wheel upright, carrying stresses they were never designed to take. And those bolts are likely running through a thinner piece of sheet metal than where your lower control arm attached.
If you intend to drive this thing until the wheels fall off, chances are you are only one good hit of the brakes or one really hard swerve away from that actually happening.
2006-12-24 12:25:31 · answer #1 · answered by Mad Scientist Matt 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No it is not safe. It is very necessary. Is the wheel leaning in at the top? I'm surprised you can still drive it. You have no control over the wheel. It's going to do what it wants to. You'd be better off calling a junk yard and have them pick it up for scrap than to try to trade it in or drive it. Take the money they give you and buy another car. The car is a accident waiting to happen.
2006-12-24 08:54:25 · answer #2 · answered by keijo47 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2016-05-23 04:28:21 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
lets see if it is called a control arm and it has rusted away and now you want to drive the car to look for a new one is it impotent, or a safety concern?????
do this my friend drive the car to the next jail and let them lock you up because if you have an accident with that car in that condition that is where you will end up anyway.......
YES IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN..............
2006-12-24 08:47:13 · answer #4 · answered by red 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
rember the exploding pinto ? they saved $3 per car , these things are cost engineered so tight they fight over nickles before they get to production . the lower control arm is about $120 (their cost), it would not be there if it was not absolutely needed , you are an accident waiting to happen , that thing should be condemned.
2006-12-24 08:55:02 · answer #5 · answered by sterling m 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am going to disagree with everyone. I say drive it. At some point the wheel will actually fall off, that's when you should stop driving it.
2006-12-24 12:13:08 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Duh...I think you better check your suspension again. You won't drive five feet without a lower control arm.
2006-12-24 13:24:58 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
its an absolute necessity.park it or tow it ,don't drive it
2006-12-24 08:51:31 · answer #8 · answered by doug b 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋