Bolt missing from lower wishbone
 

I have noticed for some time that the rear left wheel on my 96 doesn't
always look right. It is sometimes toed in when parked when other cars are
toed out or straight. Looking under the car I found that a bolt was missing
from the car end (as opposed to wheel end) the lower wishbone. This is the
forward one of the two bolts. How dangerous is it to drive the car like
this? How can it just fall off? When feeling around I notice a nut is
still in place on the top of this connection. is that a permanent nut and I
just need a bolt or did this thing sheer off somehow?
Thank you.

Bolt missing from lower wishbone
 

"96Miata" > wrote:

>I have noticed for some time that the rear left wheel on my 96 doesn't
>always look right. It is sometimes toed in when parked when other cars are
>toed out or straight. Looking under the car I found that a bolt was missing
>from the car end (as opposed to wheel end) the lower wishbone. This is the
>forward one of the two bolts. How dangerous is it to drive the car like
>this?

That is hard to say, without knowing how much time it takes for the wheel
to break off from metal fatigue. Can you leave a note for your loved ones
to post a message here if you die in a car accident, so that I have a better
answer next time?

> How can it just fall off?

It can obviously not just fall off. It could vibrate out without leaving
a trace. But why?

> When feeling around I notice a nut is
>still in place on the top of this connection. is that a permanent nut and I
>just need a bolt or did this thing sheer off somehow?

How long have you had this car? Is it possible a previous owner or shop
may have had any business fooling with this bolt? Of course, material
defects are always possible, but they seem to be very rare to me.

Leon

>Thank you.
>
--
Leon van Dommelen :) Bess, the Miata :) Bozo, the Miata :)
http://www.dommelen.net/miata
The only thing better than a white Miata is two white Miatas

Bolt missing from lower wishbone
 

"pws" > wrote in message
...
> 96Miata wrote:
>
>> I have noticed for some time that the rear left wheel on my 96 doesn't
>> always look right. It is sometimes toed in when parked when other cars
>> are toed out or straight.
>
> Is the tread drastically different on this tire than the others? That
> would help indicate how long this has been going on.
> The Miata suspension is so sensitive that you should feel something
> wrong as the control arm shifts. It has to be affecting the handling.
>
> If it has been like this the entire time you have owned the car, it will
> feel like a different vehicle when it is fixed, especially with a good
> alignment.
>
>> Looking under the car I found that a bolt was missing from the car end
>> (as opposed to wheel end) the lower wishbone. This is the forward one of
>> the two bolts.
>
> Are you certain that the bolt is missing and that the head has not
> sheared off?
> These are two-piece nut and bolt assemblies. If the nut is there, then
> there should be at least part of the bolt left for it to attach to.
>
> Any chance of getting a picture?
>
>> How dangerous is it to drive the car like this?
>
> Extremely dangerous.
> I would have the entire control arm assembly inspected and replace the
> bolt before driving it anywhere but onto a tow truck.
>
>> How can it just fall off?
>
> Don't know, but I have seen stranger things happen on cars.
>
>> When feeling around I notice a nut is still in place on the top of this
>> connection. is that a permanent nut and I just need a bolt or did this
>> thing sheer off somehow?
>> Thank you.
>
> See above.
>
> Good luck!
>
> Pat
>
>
Gee, what are we to conclude if we never here from 96miata again. :-o

Bolt missing from lower wishbone
 

Trolls don't fish ..... do they? I think I heard that they sometimes 'top
post' ;-)

Chris
99BBB

"pws" > wrote in message
...
> Frank Berger wrote:
>
>> Gee, what are we to conclude if we never here from 96miata again. :-o
>
>
> A cliff side hairpin turn as the control arm snaps free? ;-)
>
> Let us know how it goes, 96miata, assuming that you are still alive.
>
> I also hope that the question was not bait, because if it was, I swallowed
> it hook, line and sinker.......
>
> Pat

Bolt missing from lower wishbone
 

"96Miata" > wrote in message
...
>I have noticed for some time that the rear left wheel on my 96 doesn't
>always look right. It is sometimes toed in when parked when other cars are
>toed out or straight. Looking under the car I found that a bolt was
>missing from the car end (as opposed to wheel end) the lower wishbone.
>This is the forward one of the two bolts. How dangerous is it to drive the
>car like this? How can it just fall off? When feeling around I notice a
>nut is still in place on the top of this connection. is that a permanent
>nut and I just need a bolt or did this thing sheer off somehow?
> Thank you.

Thank you for the helpful responses.

The bolt in question was one a vertically oriented bolt that ties the lower
wishbone to the performance rods or brace bar assembly.
The nut is an integral part of the wishbone. The tip of the bolt was left
behind in the nut and was drilled out by the mechanic.
A new bolt was inserted through the performance rods and through the old nut
and a new nut put on top of the original.
The mechanic left a stainless steel hose clamp in the mix that he said was
used to align the holes. It can not be easily removed because it is
sandwiched between the rods and sits under the head of the bolt. It will
have it redone at some point by someone that cares more about the quality
and appearance of their work. I would have thought the old bolt would have
been tapped to directly accommodate the threads of a new bolt. Perhaps that
is expecting too much.

The creaking noise that occurred when breaking, and caused me to look under
the car in the first place, is now gone. The car feels tighter on bumps.
It is possible that there was a problem with the bolt for some time, that
it had cracked off from the nut but still held in place by tension or rust
and only provided value with horizontal stresses but not vertical ones.
Once it fell out the creaking noise began then the horizontal support, like
breaking, was gone.

With almost one hundred thousand miles, should the tie rods be replaced
(front and back)? And how about the bushings on the stabilizer bar in the
back?

Thank you.

Bolt missing from lower wishbone
 

>
> With almost one hundred thousand miles, should the tie rods be replaced
> (front and back)? And how about the bushings on the stabilizer bar in the
> back?
>
> Thank you.
>
I can't help you on the tie rods but, I don't think you'd experience any
change if you replaced the sway bar bushings. I've messed with some with
pretty high mileage and don't remember them being brittle however, if yours
are, that would warrant replacement. Upgrading the sway bars is the thing
you want to do!

Chris
99BBB