I have an 84 Trans Am with 115000 miles. It was pretty much just given to me. Anyway, I had a shop check out the front suspension and was told to just sell it. It seems that when the steering wheel is moved back and forth, the steering gear box and the frame it attaches to is also moving. The guy said that 9 out of 10 of these cars have this problem. That the frames are to weak and can't handle the weight of the car. He said it can't be fixed, although it has never been in an accident. Should I sell?

 

Tubular Steering Brace, aka Wonderbar.







keep it if its in nice shape.

 

Weld the frame if it's cracked already, install a wonderbar, install SFCs, never think about it again.

 

Thanks for the replies. I have a wonderbar I can install and I was thinking of welding on a set of subframe connectors. If that's all it will take, then it is no problem. The frame is not cracked. I just did not want to spend the money and time into a car that will never be right. He also said that in a year when you go to steer, you will have no response at all. I thought he knew what he was talking about because he has a 79 Camaro. I'm glad he's wrong.

 

Well by the sounds of it, I bet if you said you would sell it, he would be one of the first to make an offer on it, or "knows someone" who would be interested. Getting a good car cheap from you and turning a profit on it. Of course I dont know this guy and its only speculation.

 

I'm sure they eventually do "wear out", but I'm not sure when.... the one I drove today shows 356,000 miles on the chassis.... guess I'd better go check for this "wearing out"...

Seriously, I've replaced, repaired, re-created, or rebuilt about every moving or rubbing or stressed part in this car, at least once. Things that never ever wear out, have worn out. But, the "frame", such as it is, is steel; which doesn't fatigue like aluminum. I've kept it out of the salt as much as possible, so it has no visible cancer anywhere.

I agree that the person advising you to sell yours, is about to hit you with a real "friendly" offer. Ignore them. The problem you have is easy to fix, takes about 30 minutes for somebody with an impact and a welder, and about 25¢ worth of material. Get that place reinforced, and get a "wonder bar", either a fatory one, or one from any of the sponsors of this site that make them (Spohn and Top-Down do, maybe others), and enjoy your car. Don't let somebody scare you or scam you out of it.

 

Can't handle the weight of the car?? Huh. That's a new one. (laughs)

That usually means the frame BEHIND the steering gear box is cracked... did you check it? Are you sure it's not cracked?

And you probably want to find a different shop.