I think my frame is cracked because I get a pop every once in a while when I turn left at low speeds. After I get this repaired I want to put a wonderbar on to prevent this from happening again. Which one should I get? Spohn, GW, a stock one? I want one that just bolts up without any mods. I have twin electric fans and have heard that the Spohn has trouble clearing them.
Thanks

 

the pop you hear is the ball joints not a cracked frame. replace those. i think any wonderbar is good. my stock one looks plenty sturdy to me for what it does. try a junk yard. remember replace the ball joints. mine made the same noise before i change them.

 

I just made a post on this same topic a little while ago. Do a search. As for my opinion, I got the GM part and it looks like it will be fine. I've heard that the Global West and Spohn parts require some modification to install, so I like the simplicity of the factory fit.

 

You might want to try and grease your entire front end also with some waterproof moly grease.

 

Thanks for the info. I recently bought the car and have only heard the noise a couple times when I have it cranked almost all of the way to the left and then start to accelerate. I haven't looked for a crack in the frame yet, but I will get under there in a day or two just to make sure it isn't. I have noticed when I am making low speed turns with the wheels cranked almost all of the way to one side the front end has a loose/wobble feel to it. Maybe the ball joints like you said.
I would still like to get a wonderbar even if it isn't cracked now to prevent it in the future.
Is there an aftermarket wonderbar that doesn't require me to move my fans?
What would be a fair price on a used factory one? I see two on ebay.
Thanks

 

You can get powdercoated aftermarket ones in the 60 buck range. The stock ones on ebay go really high in price. I watched a stock one that was powdercoated go for like 125 or 130 the other day. I got the BMR one it's alright, but I had to cut the hole a little larger (2mm) and I had to modify the sway bar bushings due to there not being a slot for the tab on the bushing to go into. I don't have my dual fans anymore. I'm running permacool ones so there's no mounting problems for me. I would recommend the spohn ones. I've bought lots of parts (lcas, brackets, sfcs...) and I've been extremely happy with products and service.

 

I got thinking about your popping sound. It very well could be the ball joint, especially since it does it while you are turning, but it also wouldn't hurt to repack or replace your wheel bearings. As cheap and easy as it is to do, it's just a good thing to do anyway. I replaced my front ones because the passenger side one was making a clunking noise when I came to a stop. The factory probably could've been repacked, but I just replaced them. A good indication if wheel bearings are bad is if you can push inward on the top edge of the tire and the wheel moves inward towards the inner fender. This is due to play in the wheel bearing.