rusty rear subframe on a '91......replace?
#1
Posted 02-06-2012 07:19 PM
My rear subframe is pretty beat. It was an emergency grab from a junkyard in Brooklyn. Control arms are a bit rusty too.
I have no problem getting to a good alignment.....but should I be concerned with how this guy looks?
Vick
www.volko.com
Black SM/SM2/"Slap Bracelet Throwback" #12 in the Northeast....if the car was made in the early 90's it should look like it.
1.6L forever! Bring on your '99's and '01's!
#2
Posted 02-06-2012 08:22 PM
While I can't see it close in picture, from what I can see, structurally you should be fine
Jim
East Street Auto Parts
Jim@Eaststreet.com
800 700 9080
#3
Posted 02-06-2012 08:24 PM
#4
Posted 02-06-2012 08:40 PM
If it all looks sound...its a good excuse to give it a nice shiny paint job! We were all admiring someone's yellow subframes about a year ago. I've heard rumor of some pink ones, but I'm not sure I'm that manly.
-tch
Build: www.tomhampton.info
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I didn't lose, I just got outspent!
#5
Posted 02-07-2012 08:15 AM
If you are ambitious, you could remove all the parts--inclting control arm, half shaft, etc. and hit it with a steel brush or abraisive tool to clean it up real well to see what you have.
If it is still "solid", POR 15 would work well.
#6
Posted 02-07-2012 08:17 AM
Probably the rust was being caused by the exhaust--good warmth breeding ground for corrosion.
If you are ambitious, you could remove all the parts--inclting control arm, half shaft, etc. and hit it with a steel brush or abraisive tool to clean it up real well to see what you have.
If it is still "solid", POR 15 would work well.
+1 on POR 15
Glenn Murphey, Crew Chief
Owner Crew Chief Services The Pinnacle of Excellence, Contract Crew Services for the racing community.
Soon to be back in the club racing scene for good
#7
Posted 02-07-2012 08:21 AM
Glenn Murphey, Crew Chief
Owner Crew Chief Services The Pinnacle of Excellence, Contract Crew Services for the racing community.
Soon to be back in the club racing scene for good
#8
Posted 02-07-2012 08:30 AM
- Glenn likes this
Phew...... that was a close one!
Tony Senese
NASA-NE SM Director
'06, '08, '11, '12, '13, '14
NASA-NE SM champ
#9
Posted 02-07-2012 08:51 AM
The bigger issues I see are: are the camber bolts and is sway bar "free"?
Glenn:
camber bolts aren't that old, but yah, probably worth replacing.
what do you mean by sway bar being "free"? As Tony will attest to I'm gradually coming up the mechanical curve.
Tony: luckily she gets it. Date night at least once a week goes a long way.
Vick
www.volko.com
Black SM/SM2/"Slap Bracelet Throwback" #12 in the Northeast....if the car was made in the early 90's it should look like it.
1.6L forever! Bring on your '99's and '01's!
#10
Posted 02-07-2012 09:11 AM
Only a dog would be sniffing around your rear end!!
Dave
Dave Wheeler
Advanced Autosports, the nations most complete Spec Miata shop
Author, Spec Miata Constructors Guide, version 1 and 2.0
Building Championship winning cars since 1995
4 time Central Division Spec Miata Champion car builder 2012-2013-2014-2017
Back to Back June Sprints Spec Miata 1-2 finishes 2016 and 2017
5 time June Sprints winner in Mazda's
6 Time Northern Conference Champion Car Builder
2014 SCCA Majors National point Champion car builder
2014 SCCA Runoffs winner, T4 (Bender)
2014 Central Division Champion, ITS (Wheeler)
2013 Thunderhill 25 hour winning crew chief
2007 June Sprints winner, (GT1, Mohrhauser)
Over 200 race wins and counting.
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608-313-1230
#11
Posted 02-07-2012 09:17 AM
what do you mean by sway bar being "free"?
A flat washer under one of the ears of the U bracket does wonders for allowing the sway bar to rotate freely.
- Alberto likes this
#12
Posted 02-07-2012 09:22 AM
#13
Posted 02-07-2012 09:49 AM
what do you mean by sway bar being "free"? As Tony will attest to I'm gradually coming up the mechanical curve.
BY GREASE SMEARS THE BAR IS MOVING QUITE A BIT LEFT TO RIGHT..
I would change bar or put a collar to hold bar in place. If the endlinks are free, but different lengths it will cause bar to shift. Also if the endlinks are bound it will shift and sometimes they just shift The new bars come with a collar on them.
Jim
East Street Auto Parts
Jim@Eaststreet.com
800 700 9080
#14
Posted 02-07-2012 10:51 AM
While replacing the camber bolts, it's a good time to buy some new long bolts. As Dave W frequently points out, they bend easily. During an overhaul this winter I found that they don't have to bend much before they're hard to remove and cause some binding. A couldn't eyeball it as bent but a straight edge showed a slight bend. New bolts slid right in and freed up the control arms.
As part of our normal between race prep we check for bent long bolts. Our procedure is to loosen the nut about 2 turns, then spin the bolt while watching the brake rotor. If the rotor wobbles around, the bolt is bent. If you are not sure, bolt the wheel back on and spin the bolt. The larger size of the tire makes small bends more pronounced.
If the bolt is bent, it has probably changed Camber and Toe on that wheel, and will effect the handling of the car.
dave
- Keith Novak likes this
Dave Wheeler
Advanced Autosports, the nations most complete Spec Miata shop
Author, Spec Miata Constructors Guide, version 1 and 2.0
Building Championship winning cars since 1995
4 time Central Division Spec Miata Champion car builder 2012-2013-2014-2017
Back to Back June Sprints Spec Miata 1-2 finishes 2016 and 2017
5 time June Sprints winner in Mazda's
6 Time Northern Conference Champion Car Builder
2014 SCCA Majors National point Champion car builder
2014 SCCA Runoffs winner, T4 (Bender)
2014 Central Division Champion, ITS (Wheeler)
2013 Thunderhill 25 hour winning crew chief
2007 June Sprints winner, (GT1, Mohrhauser)
Over 200 race wins and counting.
www.advanced-autosports.com
dave@advanced-autosports.com
608-313-1230
#15
Posted 02-07-2012 11:22 AM
As part of our normal between race prep we check for bent long bolts. Our procedure is to loosen the nut about 2 turns, then spin the bolt while watching the brake rotor. If the rotor wobbles around, the bolt is bent. If you are not sure, bolt the wheel back on and spin the bolt. The larger size of the tire makes small bends more pronounced.
If the bolt is bent, it has probably changed Camber and Toe on that wheel, and will effect the handling of the car.
dave
I see you did'nt say you replace these... A little "extra" adjustment maybe
Glenn Murphey, Crew Chief
Owner Crew Chief Services The Pinnacle of Excellence, Contract Crew Services for the racing community.
Soon to be back in the club racing scene for good
#16
Posted 02-07-2012 03:14 PM
Since I had to do the diff, I wound up sourcing a used rear subframe ($40 craigslist) out of a 94+ car w/ the tabs for the braces. I wire wheeled it and painted it w/ POR15 - probably shoulda had it powdercoated instead but I'm cheap and didn't want to pay for it since I already had the paint.
I also stumbled upon a set of rear control arms, spindle and hubs assemblies out of a local CA car w/ 20k original miles on them for $100 and wound up replacing that also.
I wound up having/wanting to replace most the nuts and bolts on my suspension b/c some of them were rendered immovable due to rust. Now its all nice and clean and easy to work on. I just haven't needed to work on it so....
#17
Posted 02-07-2012 03:17 PM
Phew...... that was a close one!
Tony Senese
NASA-NE SM Director
'06, '08, '11, '12, '13, '14
NASA-NE SM champ
#18
Posted 02-07-2012 03:51 PM
phew.
I do have those tabs for mounting a cross brace, so I'll think about that. will also do the camber bolts (my setup guy will probably appreciate that), and the long bolts.
Now for the shocks that have been in the car since 2001 or so.....
Vick
www.volko.com
Black SM/SM2/"Slap Bracelet Throwback" #12 in the Northeast....if the car was made in the early 90's it should look like it.
1.6L forever! Bring on your '99's and '01's!
#19
Posted 02-07-2012 08:11 PM
As part of our normal between race prep we check for bent long bolts. Our procedure is to loosen the nut about 2 turns, then spin the bolt while watching the brake rotor. If the rotor wobbles around, the bolt is bent. If you are not sure, bolt the wheel back on and spin the bolt. The larger size of the tire makes small bends more pronounced.
If the bolt is bent, it has probably changed Camber and Toe on that wheel, and will effect the handling of the car.
dave
Ahhh...I turned the bolt to see if the threaded end wobbled and didn't see anything so that isn't a good test. The straight edge worked but I had to look on multiple sides of the bolt and look very carefully. It really only takes a very slight bend. 2 new ones on the car and 2 new ones in the spares box.
#20
Posted 02-07-2012 10:41 PM
A flat washer under one of the ears of the U bracket does wonders for allowing the sway bar to rotate freely.
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