Chicago Potholes + Lowered RX8 = Cracked Subframe?

[Renesis07]

Well, after hitting a few of these "craters" out here in lovely Lake County I started to hear a popping noise from the front end of the car. Figured I blew a strut or broke an endlink and didnt think too much of it.

Well I just got it into the dealership I work at for them to raise it up and take a look around to see what the damage is. All I hear is "aw shit man your frame is cracked!" .

Where the control arm meets the subframe, there is a gigantic crack! If I hadn't caught this in time, it wouldve completely snapped resulting in 1 less wheel and 1 less RX8 in existence.

Overall, quoted 2500-3000 to repair from the dealership but I found a mechanic thatll do the repair for 1000 installed. Need to replace the entire subframe and control arm.

My mechanic welded it back together for now to hold me over until I get my funds together for the repair ( weld was $200). This means no drag-racing, auto-x, or random kills until the subframe is repaired. This sucks, just in time for Spring.

Moral of the story, fuck potholes. That's it, just wanted to share my latest catastrophy.

Click to read more...

 

[RebelGTP]

File Police Report so that you can Submit repair costs to Lake County... Perhaps they are responsible just like in Chicago and Suburbs?

Fuck potholes

 

[ktraver97ss]

Ouch! That should not happen imo, weak metal ftl.

 

[SilentShado]

Sorry to hear that buddy, not for anything but have you looked into having the county reimburse you for your repairs. I know I saw it on the news that if you take pictures of the damage, pics of the pothole, and a estimate you can file a claim for reimbursement. Might want to look into it, what can it hurt if you get some cash back from them bastards. Let me know if it works out for ya. Again sorry to hear

 

[SilentShado]

damn rebel you beat me too it

 

[Eagle]

Thats crazy. Definitely shouldn't be able to crack the subframe that way.

 

[radioguy6]

that sucks man...definitely go after the city/county/state or whoever controls the road you were on and file a claim. Good luck with everything.

 

[UWISHU1]

WOW! I hate IL winters

 

[Renesis07]

Im not exactly sure when or where it happened to be honest. It just started making a popping noise one day. Another thing to note, when he found the crack, it was where the alignment bolt was. The alignment bolt had no nut on it. Meaning the bolt was just unsecured.

We're not sure at this point if the last time I had an alignment they forgot to put it on or if it rattled off.

Our suspicion is that someone didnt tighten that bolt and the vibrations combined with these roads out here caused the damage.

I would file a police report but I dont really have my ducks in a row. There wasnt really a solid "BOOM" oh shit this pothole fucked my car up. It was more of a pop pop as I came to a stop and me not thinking anything about it. My car has 80K on it and its lowered, I just figured I broke an endlink which is common among lowered RX8s.

More than likely, someone fucked me over by not securing that bolt. Good thing it just cracked the frame, if that bolt had rattled out, my control arm wouldve broke loose.

 

[Alacran]

or the crack caused the bolt to lose tension and the nut came off that way.

 

[Mickey]

Nobody on the rx8 boards has a subframe and a control arm? You could just do it yourself. Subframes are easy as hell to do in most cars.

 

[Smoke]

Id file anyways, but to be honest your request will proabably either be denied, stonewalled in paperwork hell, or laughed at and round filed.

 

[Angus]

Nobody on the rx8 boards has a subframe and a control arm? You could just do it yourself. Subframes are easy as hell to do in most cars.

x2. I bet someone from here could even help you out somehow...

 

[9DSM7]

Lake County as in were?

indiana?

 

[RebelGTP]

 

[Fish]

There is a Lake County IN. Lake County IL is next to the WI boarder. Starts at Lake Cook Road. Buffalo Grove, Vernon Hills, Lincolnshire, Gurnee, Mundelein just to name a few towns.

That sucks.

 

[99PONTIACGP]

Damn Lake County...and winter!

 

[Angus]

got any pics of the carnage?

 

[Renesis07]

no pics, I left work early and brought it straight to my mechanic to have the crack welded. The weld should hold up for a while however my handling capabilities are literally cut in half.

I'm going to start hitting up junk yards and what-not to see if I can find a used one. Im also posting at rx8club.com where I have over 3500 posts. The best Ive seen was 550 for the subframe, 200 for the control arm.

If anyone here is comfortable working on an RX8, let me know, I can use all the help I can get!

 

[SilentShado]

I'm going to head out to Rt. 14 auto parts this saturday, I will check and see if they have anything for you. And if it helps any, I never worked on an RX but I can give you a hand if need be.

 

[Renesis07]

well, I dont have enough balls to tackle this repair on my own. Not enough experience and I dont want to mess anything up (again).

Ive been posting all over rx8club.com and I got a quote for 500 shipped for both the subframe + control arm. Not a bad deal IMHO, not sure how old the parts are however.

 

[Renesis07]

Mickey,

I see you have some import experience, would you be willing to help me out with this project once I get the parts?

 

[sickmint79]

sucks dude. i actually saw you like last week or so i think. i live by the corner of 45 and washington, going to work around 810 or 815ish usually there. passed you while i was going south on 45 and you north iirc

 

[Renesis07]

yea, sounds right, I live about .25 miles from that intersection and leave for work around 8 every morning lol.

 

[Mickey]

Mickey,

I see you have some import experience, would you be willing to help me out with this project once I get the parts?

Dude, I wish I could help. I would gladly do that for you but I'm now living in Normal which is 2 hours away from you. I would have no problem with replacing your subframe and giving your car a thorough test drive