lca problems. scary

[FRpilot]

well, heres a little story of what happened to me last week. it was raining one day and i hydroplaned and hit an island. it was pretty bad, the front of my car just went up the island. it turned out i broke a tension rod and bent the lca to the point i couldn't take off the t/c rod bolts so i had to remove the entire lca and replace it.

being cheap, i grabbed this lca from my other car. its hella beat up and the ball joint boot is ripped and leaking. anyways, i installed it, but fucked up the thread. i drove around and didn't put the nut in to test it out and i know that was hella stupid b/c the lca fell off and my wheel was hella crooked like i had crazy negative camber.

anyways, i grinded part of the thread off on the lca so i could put the nut back on but too much that the cotter pin wouldn't fit on. now that i drive, the car makes 'clinking' sounds when i turn. im afraid the lca will fall off while im driving and cause an accident but i might have to drive like this for a few days. it drives fine going straight, but when i turn i heard a 'clunk' sound.

i ordered a new lca from pdm and it'll be here next week, but in the mean time, is it safe to drive? is this symptoms that hte ball joint might fall off the lca? what could be causing this clunk sound? maybe i tighted the lca to the cross member too tight or didn't use proper torque specs? any comments appreciated. thanks guys.

[nightwalker]

don't drive it. You'll fuck up more shit. Then you'll really be screwed.

[Salty_X]

Does it "clunk" every time you make a turn?
Personally I don't think it's worth the possible damage to keep driving it like that.

I just started having a similar noise a couple days ago, somewhere in the right front well... kind of a "metallic pop" noise. It only seems do it when I brake or sometimes turn right. Since we're talking about whack noises, someone want to help this brother out? Anybody have an idea what it is?

[nightwalker]

tie rod most likely. Check to see if the boot is torn. Mine clunks BAD! cause it's been torn forever.

[Salty_X]

What do you think I should get Phia, a bunch of suspension ish (TC rods, Tie Rods, Powerbrace, subframe spacers) or these? (http://page2.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/b49978866)
Ugh, I can't decide... 17x10 +24 in a 4 lug!! I want!!!

[nightwalker]

are you speaking of wheels? I thought you already have nice wheels??? (I couldn't see the auction cause I'm not reged) Do the suspension stuff. exactly what you said, plus a thicker rear sway bar, and rear upper camber arms. Trust me, you'll like it.

[Salty_X]

Nah, you just can't see the auction because it's over. I didn't win. :wtc:
I was the high bidder a few hours before it ended, but then the price doubled (from ~$200 to ~$400) while I was sleeping... sneaky bastards. They were so nice... Huge 4-lug SSR Professors... :drool:

Yeah, I plan on getting a HICAS rear bar as well, forgot to mention that. Don't really need RUCAs just yet I don't think, I'll put that off for a while.

Sorry for jacking your post FRpilot. Short answer - driving on funky LCAs is a bad idea.

[nightwalker]

hahaha, did you see the comparison on my car-domain page of the hicas and whitline bar? I drove the other car too. difference? hehehe...nil!

[FRpilot]

lol. my thread got hijacked..

but anyways, yea, the boot is way torn. and it makes like a metal clunk sound. like the car is too heavy for the lca or something. it ionly happens when i make 90 degree turns left or right. otherwise, it doesn't really make any noise when im driving straight or switching lanes to take minor curves. could the torn boot be causing this sound?