Suspension problem

They used to have 5 mph bumpers.

That is about it though.

New vehicles are the opposite of what you are looking for, they are
designed to collapse so the people don't take as much of a hit.

You hit a culvert or side of a driveway and all the weight of that van
is compressed into one corner with gravity and momentum pushing it.

I think you got off lucky with the damage, the frame/body could easily
be twisted too from a drop corner hit, that can really twist things up
if it was a ditch drop.

I think I would be investing in winter tires so your new front end
'stays' new. These all season things just don't cut it, they are too
much of a compromise as your wife now knows.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Ivan Lu wrote:
>
> Actually, the parts cost C$3,150 (exchange rate US$1=C$1.2) and the rest is
> labour. I believe that there must be some kind of specifications and/or data
> to show that even hit from the side can sustain certain extend at a given
> driving speed, like 35mph, for example. Even the speed or impact below this
> standard, one can suspect that manufacturing defect may involve. Does anyone
> here know where I can find this kind of data to support my hypothesis?
> "pater" > ???
> oups.com ???...
> > Are you talking $5000.00 ??? If so, even canadian, I'd get the he11 out
> > of that place. Unless your replacing the whole front subframe, this is
> > way out of line. Even if you are,it still is. I don't know what the
> > exchange rate is but still sounds like an awful lot for a 20mph run
> > against a curb. What year is your van & can or did they provide you
> > with an itemized list of parts & labor??
> >

"Ivan Lu" > wrote in message
. ..
| Recently my wife had a skid on the newly snowed ground when driving our
| Dodge caravan. It happened when she started off on a slightly steep slope
| and going downward. It went on a speed lower than 20KM and came to stop
| after hitting a side of a driveway. Then, it could not move anymore. When
| the car was towed to a Dodge dealer and after examination, we were told that
| the suspenpion of the front right side was broken. The whole set including
| shaft needed to be replaced. It costs 5K Canadian to repair it. Does anybody
| know if it would happen as I wonder if it involves manufactuering defect of
| the part.
|
|

Daughter did something similar to a '89 Dakota 4x4 I used to have. Cracked the
Pittman arm.

Thanks Mike for your comments.

"Mike Romain" > ???
???...
> They used to have 5 mph bumpers.
>
> That is about it though.
>
> New vehicles are the opposite of what you are looking for, they are
> designed to collapse so the people don't take as much of a hit.
>
> You hit a culvert or side of a driveway and all the weight of that van
> is compressed into one corner with gravity and momentum pushing it.
>
> I think you got off lucky with the damage, the frame/body could easily
> be twisted too from a drop corner hit, that can really twist things up
> if it was a ditch drop.
>
> I think I would be investing in winter tires so your new front end
> 'stays' new. These all season things just don't cut it, they are too
> much of a compromise as your wife now knows.
>
> Mike
> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
>
> Ivan Lu wrote:
> >
> > Actually, the parts cost C$3,150 (exchange rate US$1=C$1.2) and the rest
is
> > labour. I believe that there must be some kind of specifications and/or
data
> > to show that even hit from the side can sustain certain extend at a
given
> > driving speed, like 35mph, for example. Even the speed or impact below
this
> > standard, one can suspect that manufacturing defect may involve. Does
anyone
> > here know where I can find this kind of data to support my hypothesis?
> > "pater" > ???
> > oups.com ???...
> > > Are you talking $5000.00 ??? If so, even canadian, I'd get the he11
out
> > > of that place. Unless your replacing the whole front subframe, this is
> > > way out of line. Even if you are,it still is. I don't know what the
> > > exchange rate is but still sounds like an awful lot for a 20mph run
> > > against a curb. What year is your van & can or did they provide you
> > > with an itemized list of parts & labor??
> > >