Re: Arrgh! Cracked Frame! What now?

["Wm. Josiah Erikson" <wje97@hamp.hampshire.edu>]

Yes, I've had exactly this happen to me on an '86 8v. What I did was weld the
frame on the bottom and install a nice beefy Neuspeed lower stressbar. I had to
remove the rear trans mount to weld it (easy), and I got charged $100 for the
welding the first time I did it. I didn't mount a stressbar that time, and it
lasted for 6 months. Then the weld just broke. Next time I had a friend weld
it, and I put on the stressbar (it actually drove fine with just the
stressbar). It's lasted for about 8 months since then, but I don't have the car
anymore - I sold it to a friend for $500. I used a hydraulic jack in between
the fender well and the control arm to bend the frame back into place so that I
could install the stressbar to hold it in place while it got welded.
    Hopefully this will work for you as well!
    But honestly, the reason that I didn't keep the car is because I didn't
feel that it would be a good idea to drive it really hard anymore... I would
have wanted to AutoX it. The dude I sold it to just wanted a cheap car to get
him around, which it now is (I lent it to somebody else and they crashed it, so
it now has even more cosmetic issues than it used to).
    Good luck!
    -Josiah
    '84 GTI
    '87 QSW

Aaron wrote:

> BACKGROUND:
>
> I went to Pep Boys for an emergency inspection + emissions test and ended
> up with new brake pads (old ones were passable, but very close).  When I
> got the car back, I notice terrible pulling to the left. I drove about 60
> miles on it when things got worst.  The driver side front wheel started
> looking crooked (vertically AND horizontally) and there was a bad skidding
> noise from that tire at all speeds with or without brakes.  So I go back to
> Pep Boys and raise hell.
>
> THE PROBLEM:
>
> They lifted the car and had me take a look...  I have a cracked frame!  The
> end of the 'A' arm is cracked straight through right next to the spot where
> the brake lines feed through.
>
> I had it looked at by a mechanic down the street who said that it'de be
> $675 plus tax because he'll have to drop the transmission, replace some
> axle seals and trans. fluid (small fluid leak), and weld up the crack on
> the undercarrage and up the side of the fire wall.  Not to mention he said
> he'll have to remove some of the interior to prevent it from catching on
> fire.
>
> Obviously I can't drive on it because it will break completely loose as
> soon as I hit any small bumps.  At that time I'll loose steering and
> braking (because of the brake lines passing throught the part that will
> break free)
>
> MY QUESTION:
>
> I don't think it makes much sense to pay $700 to get the car fixed.  Has
> anyone been in a similar situation?  Are there any other options?
>
> Does anyone know of any Scirocco's or Corrado's for sale near Pennsylvania?
>
> -Aaron
>  84 8V Scirocco <-- walk AWAY from the light! PLEASEEE!
>
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