Ever have the bottom of a strut break?

[pontiecast]

Has anyone ever had the bottom of a strut basically break? I started hearing a metallic rubbing noise in the front of my '94 that went away when turning and immediately thought it was a wheel bearing. Actually noticed a slight pop noise a few days prior. Almost sounded like bad strut mounts. So, i gingerly drove it to work, about 3.5-4 miles, and saw the problem. The right front tire was rubbing on the bottom of the strut spring plate. Thought that was odd. I bent the plate away from the tire to see if the noise would go away. I made a U-turn in the parking lot, hit the gas and BANG. The right front tire is pointing to the left while the left front it straight. The bottom of the strut broke clean off. Now I could understand this happening to my car being it is originally from back East and it does have 177,xxx miles BUT..... I just purchased the strut assemblies from Rock Auto a few months back and they barely have 200 miles on them. The inside of the strut is now exposed and is VERY rusty. They are Raybestos struts. Now I am not going to bash on RA. I am going to call them tomorrow and see what the warranty policy is on these. Long story long, just wanted to see if this has happened to anyone.
Just gotta say I am VERY LUCKY this didn't happen while driving on the freeway at 70 mph...whew....

[berettaboi]

strut? or ball joint on the control arm?

[Asylum]

Definately does sound like a ball joint

[pontiecast]

Nope. It is the strut. I'll take a pic in the AM.

[Asylum]

Gotta say I have never heard of that one.
Unless it worked it's way loose or there was a major defect.

[scd88ga]

Holy crap! I'd be livid! I have JUMPED cars and didn't break anything major like that! Something is fishy about this on the manufacturers end, like rebuilding struts with used housings kinda fishy!

I don't see a listing for Raybestos struts for your car on Rock Auto. Were they some kinda closeout or something that they sold out of?

[pontiecast]

I guess I purchased the last set? Part numbers 7171921 and 7171922. You are right. They are no longer on RA's site.

Here is the pic. The yellowish color is the rust from the inside of the strut.

[3X00-Modified]

Definitely warranty return, that's crazy... BUT if it was a closeout then you might be SOL.

[Styluss]

Yay Asylum!

[pontiecast]

SOL I am..... Out of stock on the Raybestos part #s. Was instructed to purchase another strut from them, then turn the broken one in for a credit. So basically I have to order a new strut, wait for it to come in, replace it and send the other one back. A little worried that if one side broke, the other is sure to do the same. Just don't have the time to do that.

Looks like I am just going to repair the broken strut by welding the cap back on and reinforce the other side.

As far as Rock Auto, they have been helpful and there really isn't much they can do. Policy is policy. Just happened to be the lucky guy that purchased the one part that had a one in a million issue. Sucks....really sucks.

[Money pit Beretta]

Strange, guess I'm out of the loop. Raybestos=brakes to me.
I have a fear of brands that make one thing for many years and start making something else or just put their name on a part.

[spacecadetz26]

i wonder if you can weld it back together?

[pontiecast]

Going to weld it

[Styluss]

They are Raybestos struts.

There's your problem...

[apay]

on our race car (not beretta) we had a strut break bu above the spindle so only the ball joint and the tie rod held it on while racing