Over a year ago I hit a curb and i broke one of the welds in the front crossmember. I re-welded it back, and replaced the lca (that was bent). I also had to re-drill the hold in the bracket to make the lca bolt in. Before my caster was waaay off, now it is still off, but not as bad - about 1" too far back. Anyway, now there is about 1/2 behind the rear mounting bolt of my lca that is just air, not touching the bushing because the bracket got pushed back.

I replaced my springs about a month ago, and now the car makes a noise (like a creaking noise) at low speeds or when I brake to a stop that sounds like it's coming from the lca.

I wanted to just replace my crossmember instead of wasting money changing the alignment to fix the really bad caster and putting a bushing in place of the open spot.

Has anyone done this with the engine/trannny in the car? Should i just lift the engine/tranny to replace it? I can pull/put back my springs/spindles off the lca in no time now, so I figure If I lifted the engine tranny a little and then unbolted the crossmember, that I could just drop it out and put a new one in.

Has anyone had a shop replace their crossmember.. any estimates on cost?

Getting a crossmember is no big deal, i am sure i could score a good one for free or a few bucks, but I don't know if it is possible for me to install it w/ just jack/jackstands/air tools. I could buy an engine puller, that's not a big deal.

any help.. please? It kinda sucks having a car look really good, and sound really good, with all sorts of upgraded suspension, that handles & brakes like absolute garbage.


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89GTA5spd – Came: Completely Stock w/ 3.42’s, rear disks, dual cats, LB9 305, T5, bad paint & interior. I did: Conical K&N w/cust piping, TPIS Airfoil, Ported Plenum/Runners, TB By-pass, Home Made AFPR, MSD Cap/Rotor, Jet Fan Switch, 180 T-stat, , Flowmaster 3” Cat-back, Eibach 1” Drop, KYB’s, Hotchkis STB, BFG 255 Comp T/A’s, AC Plugs, NOS TPI (custom) Kit , Sony CD Deck, Orion Amp, Fosgate 10’s, 1991 GTA interior, new paint. I have but have yet to put on: Alston Bolt on SFC’s, Paxton SN-92. Soon: Mallory Hyfire, Autometer Phantom Elec. FP guage, N20 Guage, Boost Guage, Fuel Pressure Safety Switch, Bottle Blanket. Not So Soon: L98 w/ alum heads. Always a work in progress..

 

You can replace the crossmemeber without too much trouble. Raise and support the engine, remove front springs, unbolt, and swap out.

There are prolly some other items that will have to be removed as well, and yet more items that will have to be moved out of the way. You should be albe to tackle this in a weekend.

Have fun....

 

Thanks for the help. I am going to start looking for a crossmember asap.