Okay, what in the world is this bracket called?

[Pizzon]

Okay. Hit a nearly-invisible curb at Advance auto (goign to work things out with them) but meanwhile.

I hit the curb with my right front tire, no problems then, but 5 minutes later of driving, and i heard something pop, and the wheel locks/pops in DRIVE... in neutral, reverse, its okay.

Took the wheel off and noticed this silly yoke-bracket is broken on the bottom arm. Its towords the front of the car, attached to a kinda rubbery bushing that goes into an arm (which i beleive is the control arm) that goes around the front.. but i think its the suspension... my steering is absolutely fine..

its kinka like this
____________
|Grooved line
|
====|(RUBBER BUSHING)
|Grooved line
|___________

The rubber bushing has the same grooves, the brakcet arms slide into it. Looks like it prevents it from going up/down, when i drop it into drive the engine jumps down, then back up high. like the bar is supporting the engine.

I have a phone pic of it, if u guys want me to post it ill find a way.

I checked with GM but they werent any help. i cant see it on the diagram.

Gah!

Anyone have anything? Much appreciated.

[SE2000]

Do you mean the sway bar?

[Pizzon]

Negative. Sway bar/end links are fine.. knowing a little more than i did before about the suspension system by looking at the diagram GM gave me, ima take the tire off now again and chart everything and try to pinpoint it.

[thegrimone]

kinda sounds like lower control arm mount, not sure why the engine would move though, maybe you need motor mounts also.

to check your bearings with the tire on and off the ground, grab the wheel at 12 o'clock and 6 try to rock it to and fro if any movement replace bearings, from 9 and 3 you might get some movement, that could be many things.

is this part close to wheel or more back on the car sub frame?

[1CoopGT03]

Would help if you could post a pic.

[Pizzon]

The wheel turns completelty fine, and i mustered a didgi cam (although i dont know the quality of the pics, since the lcd is broken) will edit with pics when i upkload in a minute

[Pizzon]

Okay, got pictures! Btw, if anyone knows how to get the bolts out, please enlighten me, lol. They are basically immobile.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v207/onecrazymofo72/DSCF0842.jpg


Bracket itsself. Here (following) are more pictures of it at more angles.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v207/onecrazymofo72/DSCF0841.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v207/onecrazymofo72/DSCF0846.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v207/onecrazymofo72/DSCF0845.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v207/onecrazymofo72/DSCF0844.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v207/onecrazymofo72/DSCF0843.jpg

[1CoopGT03]

Well My car's newer but I'll take a stab at it . Looks like it may be the lower Engine mount bracket on the passenger side . Someone with a 94 Ga should be able to confirm it . Hope I was helpful .

Edit :
Looks like the Knuckle ( for a better word) thats attached to the rubber isolator cracked/broke . The part to the front looks like it's attached to the front of the engine . Part of the engine mount .

[MantaGreen97]

Yeah looks like an engine mount to me... You may have to support the engine before removing that. Also you'll probably need a breaker bar to remove the bolts. I would also torque them back to spec upon replacement.

You also appear to be leaking something down the side of the engine there, either some oil or coolant or something? Unrelated I'm sure but it does appear there is soemething leaking.

[thegrimone]

yeah lower motor mount, and its a very green color leaking, find that antifreeze leak, from that side of the car it could be water pump or a hose or cracked reservoir

[MantaGreen97]

Or perhaps a leaking LIM? :(

[Pizzon]

i do appreciate all the help, that would explain it why the engine seems unhealthily un-supported. The fluid i just noticed, its probaly a mixture of all-in-one oil and wd40, but my pump is going bad, so probaly a mix of everything.

The lower motor mount is that low? i thought it was something like that, since the whole bracket platre is attacked way up high.

Thanks for everything guys, i was at a loss till now.

Im not leaking much anti, ALOT of that is wd40, lol. i went though 2 cans.

Ill post more info as i arise..

so, to take it out, ill put support on the engine, and get a torque wrench to pop em out? i noticed they have backings on the end of the bolts that look like they're near impossible to get to.

[MantaGreen97]

No a torque wrench to put them back in and torque to spec. You'll want to use a breaker bar to pull them out. Or a big f'n ratchet, or a ratchet or wrench with a cheater pipe, etc.

There are likely nuts on the back as you mentioned so you'll have to hold them in place if that's the case. An assistant might be handy here.

[Pizzon]

Originally posted by MantaGreen97
No a torque wrench to put them back in and torque to spec. You'll want to use a breaker bar to pull them out. Or a big f'n ratchet, or a ratchet or wrench with a cheater pipe, etc.

Right, got it. I praticed on a car in the bone yard and had a 9 inch extension on my wrench and 2 swivilies and jumped on the damn wrench and still wouldnt budge... ive got a 6ft steel pipe that ill prolly use


*edit*

Whats a LIM? im scared now lol...

[coupe]

Um dude, are you supporting the engine when you are tryin to remove that bolt?

[Pizzon]

Originally posted by coupe
Um dude, are you supporting the engine when you are tryin to remove that bolt?

Not at the bone yard. with MY car yeah.

And one more question, how come the car doesnt studder and jolt when its in reverse or neutral? just in drive? is it becasuse of the sudden load on the front end

[Jchiasson]

Just a guess...
When in reverse the broken mount is being forced reward, which is limited because what is left of the bracket is stopping it from moving that way to much. In a forward gear the opposite is true, mount is actually being pulled a part which ends up going beyond limits.

[SE2000]

Just a thought. If it was Autozones fault, your mount is damaged, not worn out, then why not have autozone do it?

[Vhrus]

Originally posted by SE2000
Just a thought. If it was Autozones fault, your mount is damaged, not worn out, then why not have autozone do it?
He ran over a curb, thats not Advance auto's fault ;)

[Pizzon]

Originally posted by Jchiasson
Just a guess...
When in reverse the broken mount is being forced reward, which is limited because what is left of the bracket is stopping it from moving that way to much. In a forward gear the opposite is true, mount is actually being pulled a part which ends up going beyond limits.


Yeah thats true... there is still SOME bracket lol.

Well it was Advance auto parts store's problem lol.

See the thing is, it was dark/snowey outside, and the curb sticks straight out in the middle of the driveway, and its kinda black and not painted at all, and the light that lights the curb up wasnt on, granted yeah im not blameing them, lol, but its right off of a busy ass road and the way you turn in, your hedlights wont shine over them till the last second. Ima see if they'll help out with the costs (since im broooooooke), and they've screwed me over already, lol. they effin owe me.

But im not going to run out on a limb, im not that kinda person lol.

[tosun28]

LIM is the lower intake gasket failure that it seems a lot of the v6's in GM cars have, I think if someone can chime in that the main biggest part of the ones that fail are on the 3400 V6 or the older 3.1-3100 with a lot of miles on them. One of my friends had a Beretta with the 3100 and it had over 225k and no leaks and my sisters old Corrisca. had over 160k and no leaks.

Donnie

[Pizzon]

THanks for that. Yeah, i had the whole head done, head gasket, intake, exaust, everything done in it, so if it IS the LIM, id be heated, to the max.

Anyways, quick update, i finally found a motor mount, and my god that thing was broken, lol. ill take pictues. but anyway, i got it out finally (with a breaker bar, 6 foot cheater pipe, lol) and i was just wondering, how hard is it to take the rubber insert out and replace it? im thinking of useing my old one and putting it in the new (i guess) one, since the old one is a peice of crap. aaaand, if i don't find it before someone replies, whats the pounds of torque on the bolts? i can't get a torque wrench now, but ima make it as tight as possible till tomorrow when i get off of work (i hae only 4 miles to work so)

Again, i gratefully thank everyone here, I would have been at loss otherwise... you're all good people. =)

/mushy

[Pizzon]

Nevermind, tis all good. Got everything done and done. Thanks again!