Crap Happens...Suspension links CRAPPED!! (Crap Pics too!)

[Dreamcast18]

SkanKat and I were installing new headlight bulbs (Thanks to Sherman & Norm for the help!) when we saw this on the Black Kat: (sorry for the bad pics, we did this late night to check out the original vs new light differences)

http://img157.imagevenue.com/loc478/th_70236_DSC_0139_122_478lo.jpg (http://img157.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=70236_DSC_0139_122_478lo.jpg)
http://img25.imagevenue.com/loc465/th_70242_DSC_0141_122_465lo.jpg (http://img25.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=70242_DSC_0141_122_465lo.jpg)

Checking out our favorite vendor, I believe this is the part?
http://moparpart.com/cgi-bin/cat.pl?cmd=view_part&manu=CH&id=337

Question:

1. Not sure if we should get 2 (only one side is crapped) or replace both.
2. Is the car still drive-able?

This just made putting in Larry's Wonder Bar No.1 mod for Sept. Damn! I'm modding the Black Kat too much to even consider selling it now..

[halicat]

Damn! I'm modding the Black Kat too much to even consider selling it now..

You say it like its a bad thing......

resign yourself to keeping it forever.... and go crazy......

[Kruisin Kat]

DC, seems to be a number of them doing this lately. Over on the "other" site I have seen this problem posted recently.

I hear they are around $100+ each.

If it ever happens to me I'll be searching for a replacement bushing instead of replacing the complete link.

I don't think disconnecting both links temporarily will be a problem but remove the old sway bar too. Take it for an easy drive and see how it feels. A guy over in Europe says he did this and has never had a problem.

Good luck.

[TooHipCat]

DC...are you sure you shouldn't be looking at part #36...not #35? I think part #35 is the WHOLE rod...not just the bushing.

My bushings are starting to crack. I may have to replace mine too!

[Dreamcast18]

I read that one has to purchase the entire rod to get the bushings? Darn, I'll call the Prowler Tech on Monday to check on it. I am hoping NOT to pay full MSRP on it, but at the same time, would not want to order the wrong item!

DC...are you sure you shouldn't be looking at part #36...not #35? I think part #35 is the WHOLE rod...not just the bushing.

My bushings are starting to crack. I may have to replace mine too!

[Dreamcast18]

I'm getting no votes from anyone to sell the Black Kat! I've been comparing SkanKat's original to it..and gosh, what a difference between a car from a humid location to one in dry Southern California/Arizona/NM car...NOT RUST in the Orange..but u get the rusting here and there on the Black... :shock:

Damn! I'm modding the Black Kat too much to even consider selling it now..

You say it like its a bad thing......

resign yourself to keeping it forever.... and go crazy......

[Dreamcast18]

KK: Yep, looked it up this morning. $100 seems brutal..even $70 from our mopar vendor seems expensive just to get the bushing. I'll ask around to see if some local shops can find replacement bushings...maybe Larry Lord has a source. I'll ask him when I go pick up the Wonder Bar next week. I'll keep everyone posted. Just feels like crap that things like this happens when they should not.

DC, seems to be a number of them doing this lately. Over on the "other" site I have seen this problem posted recently.

I hear they are around $100+ each.

If it ever happens to me I'll be searching for a replacement bushing instead of replacing the complete link.

I don't think disconnecting both links temporarily will be a problem but remove the old sway bar too. Take it for an easy drive and see how it feels. A guy over in Europe says he did this and has never had a problem.

Good luck.

[halicat]

ok....the best I can do is...

"sell the hardtop to me and keep the rest of the car for yourself"...

either way "keep the Kat"

The chant goes up from the crowd

"keep the kat"..... !!!

"keep the Kat"......!!!

:wink:

[Scott Drolet]

Sorry about the bushings . . . Aren't they covered by the MaxCare warranty? You should probably do both since the other one can't be too far behind. I think this is just the car's way of telling you not to sell! It is trying everything within it's power to stay in your garage. Once you commit to it, it will stop breaking down.

I'm with Hali . . .Keep the cat! Keep the cat! Keep the cat!

Scott

[Dreamcast18]

The Black has Added Care warranty, which I don't think covers it. The Orange has Max Care which does cover it. I might have to switch the Added Care to Max Care before it expires.

Yes, both sides will be switched. Ordered from Randy for $64 a piece..ouch! (its $100 from the dealer excluding CA tax!) And will put in the Wonder Bar at the same time. I can't find just the bushing locally.

The Autotrader ad goes on until its sold, so i'll just leave it there.

Its being used as a daily driver by SkanKat (she gets alot of questions from folks on the streets every week), so..maybe it needs the full clear bra too? Wait..there's too much mods going on here... :?

p.s. the funny thing abt the black kat is..the more miles we put on it..the happier the grin! no concerns abt putting miles on it...just simple driving joys :wink:

Sorry about the bushings . . . Aren't they covered by the MaxCare warranty? You should probably do both since the other one can't be too far behind. I think this is just the car's way of telling you not to sell! It is trying everything within it's power to stay in your garage. Once you commit to it, it will stop breaking down.

I'm with Hali . . .Keep the cat! Keep the cat! Keep the cat!

Scott

[Dreamcast18]

HAHAHAA...no..I really like the bat-mobile hardtop look...I'll be keeping the kat till i find a BlackTie or a el cheapo Kat for repaint...

ok....the best I can do is...

"sell the hardtop to me and keep the rest of the car for yourself"...

either way "keep the Kat"

The chant goes up from the crowd

"keep the kat"..... !!!

"keep the Kat"......!!!

:wink:

[halicat]

Thats the Dreamer I know so well.....

I hear ya about the smiles... I was telling someone the other day that i enjoy the car more everytime i drive it.... the ever increasing circle of joy...

I cannot picture me without it....

I am taking her to Cruefest here in Nova Scotia... the organizer is giving me a parking spot up front, a reserved table next to the window where i can watch "the car from Hell"....

sounds like fun...

http://cruefestnovascotia.com

[Dreamcast18]

So here I am, sitting @ the Starbucks near the Prowler Tech (he actually gave me a ride here)...will work from Starbucks for rest of day.

Getting the following work done:

- Suspension Links
- Wonder Bar

Was tempted to do it myself, but work beckons and weekends free time is getting close to extinction...blah.. :?

[Dreamcast18]

BTW, there was 3 other Prowlers there:

1. Howard's (Orange)
2. 1234go I think (Black with that ball joint thingie..PTech said it was amazing how the ball disintegrated)
3. Purple 1997 (Ball joint)

[halicat]

be right back ... gotta check my ball joints :shock:

[Dreamcast18]

Checked with 1234go..its not his @ Ontario..his is in Norco. Wow..so many ball joints problems...that's scary!

[Dreamcast18]

Done! New suspension links are in!

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n275/dreamcast18/suspension/AfteR_02.jpg
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n275/dreamcast18/suspension/After_01.jpg
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n275/dreamcast18/suspension/Before_02.jpg
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n275/dreamcast18/suspension/Before_01.jpg
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n275/dreamcast18/suspension/Before_04.jpg
http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n275/dreamcast18/suspension/Before_03.jpg

[halicat]

Dang !....

those old ones look scarey..... :shock:

[Dreamcast18]

Bumping this up for LAWil and Steve (he asked on POA).

Good habit to check on the links on a regular basis.

[Kruisin Kat]

I noticed mine a couple weeks ago have splits in the dust covers now. This winter I will do something about them.

[Pepe]

Sorry about the crapped suspension DC :-? - $hit DOES happen and I agree,
get the wonder bra from Larry L. - I had it for 2 years laying in the garage but knowing we were going to Tulsa and KNOWING OK's horrible roads I just put it in before Tulsa - WHAT A DIFFERENCE - should've done it right away (2 years ago:roll:)

Oh and you know MY vote ....... KEEP THE BLACK ;-)

[AC-INXS]

"I'm getting no votes from anyone to sell the Black Kat!"

DC > sell the black one,,,you don't need two, lol

Sell me the hardtop,,,,I'll drive over for install,,that way you don't have to ship it anywhere.

[Dreamcast18]

dudes....this is an old post..bumping up just for the suspension links info for some folks looking for them...

black prowler is sticking around for a while :wink:

[DavidN]

:rll::rll::tu: yea Dusti,....this is what ???two years old!!!!!

[Pepe]

:rll::rll::tu: yea Dusti,....this is what ???two years old!!!!!


Can you say ...... OOOPS :rll:

ANd here I thought DC had another doozey :cry2:

[Pepe]

Well C-man,

did ya ever get the Wonder Bra ?

[Dreamcast18]

Nope, don't think I need a Wonder Bra... However, I did get the Wonder Bar and was installed together with the suspension links.

The ride in the Orange is 'lexus-like' enough, so no Wonder Bar in that kat.

[lawil]

D.C. you are amazing. Thanks for the info. I am really amazed how quickly you get things done. It was just yesterday I saw you talking about some suspension part that went bad, then BOOOOM!! all done, you've got posting of it repaired with the new parts and all. Sure helps knowing who,what,where when it comes to "our baby" as we like to call her. Your my hero. Hope to pick your brain further for additional info. Thanks for all your help. :bows

[halicat]

DC got to pick his own brain , thats why he's so smart.......:-D

I got the last one in the Econo-brain bin...:cry2: