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Something metal fell off my car...

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Old Jul 20, 2015 | 09:37 PM
  #1  
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From: St. Louis, MO
Car: 1986 Trans AM
Engine: 305
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Something metal fell off my car...

I was driving around last night, and as I turned onto a street, I accidentally slid my back tires out and ended up jerking the car around really hard as I tried to correct it.
Two seconds later, I heard what sounded like a small piece of metal clanging against the concrete behind me.
I couldn't find anything when I looked under the car when I got home. Is there anything in particular I should be looking for?
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Old Jul 20, 2015 | 09:47 PM
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From: Saratoga Area, New York
Car: 1990 Formula Firebird
Engine: 305 TBI (LO3)
Transmission: WC T-5 out of an 88 T/A
Axle/Gears: 10 bolt, 3.42 & Torsen Posi
Re: Something metal fell off my car...

Lots of metal things on your car that can rot off... Exhaust is usually the first thing to go...
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Old Jul 20, 2015 | 09:48 PM
  #3  
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From: St. Louis, MO
Car: 1986 Trans AM
Engine: 305
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: Something metal fell off my car...

My exhaust hangars have definitely seen better days lol. I'll take a look at those. Anything else I should be on the lookout for?
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Old Jul 20, 2015 | 09:50 PM
  #4  
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From: Saratoga Area, New York
Car: 1990 Formula Firebird
Engine: 305 TBI (LO3)
Transmission: WC T-5 out of an 88 T/A
Axle/Gears: 10 bolt, 3.42 & Torsen Posi
Re: Something metal fell off my car...

Could be a million things. Examine all the critical systems to make sure the car is safe to drive, then don't worry about it too much.
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Old Jul 21, 2015 | 11:14 AM
  #5  
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Car: 86 Trans Am WS6
Engine: 383 stroker
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Axle/Gears: 9 Bolt Torsen 3.70
Re: Something metal fell off my car...

I would definitely check exhaust first, it's odd how something isn't noticeably laying on the ground when you check. You're positive something's dragging or is the rear end grinding?
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Old Jul 22, 2015 | 11:37 PM
  #6  
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From: St. Louis, MO
Car: 1986 Trans AM
Engine: 305
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: Something metal fell off my car...

Originally Posted by TylerSteez
I would definitely check exhaust first, it's odd how something isn't noticeably laying on the ground when you check. You're positive something's dragging or is the rear end grinding?
I mean it sounded like something fell COMPLETELY off the car. There is nothing dragging or anything.
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Old Jul 23, 2015 | 07:04 AM
  #7  
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Re: Something metal fell off my car...

Panhard bar?
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Old Jul 23, 2015 | 08:32 AM
  #8  
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Car: 1989 Trans Am GTA
Engine: LT1, AFR 195cc, 231/239 LE cam.
Transmission: M28 T56
Axle/Gears: 3.23 10bolt waiting to explode.
Re: Something metal fell off my car...

Originally Posted by ex-x-fire
Panhard bar?
LoL at even ASKING that question.

If the panhard broke on the car you would KNOW instantly. And by instantly, I mean in that "Oh God, Oh God, I don't WANNA DIE!!!" way. I once had my panhard bolt get a tiny bit loose. Enough to introduce about maybe 1mm of left to right play in the mounting. The side to side motion as the car changed lanes was terrifying.

If you actually LOST the panhard bar? You'd wreck the car the minute you put any side load on it. The axel would slide out from underneath you. You would have ZERO control over the car.
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Old Jul 23, 2015 | 08:49 AM
  #9  
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Car: 88GTA
Engine: 5.7TPI
Transmission: Auto
Axle/Gears: 3.27
Re: Something metal fell off my car...

Not knowing what kind a car you have, Buick, Mustang, Camaro, Firebird and so on....do you have all wheel center caps??????
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Old Jul 23, 2015 | 09:22 AM
  #10  
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From: Cambridge, MD
Car: 88 Firebird, 87 Formula
Engine: 2.8, 5.0
Transmission: both 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.42,3.45
Re: Something metal fell off my car...

Originally Posted by ex-x-fire
Panhard bar?
Funny! I was driving home one day from a friends house, hit a pothole, and broke (yes, broke!) my panhard bar. I had to stop in a strip-mall to see what happened. Snapped in two! THAT was a memerable trip home!
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Old Jul 23, 2015 | 09:25 AM
  #11  
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Car: 86 Trans Am WS6
Engine: 383 stroker
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 9 Bolt Torsen 3.70
Re: Something metal fell off my car...

I'd see if you could have a friend or relative drive down the street slowly while you walk next to the car listening. As long as your exhaust isn't incredibly loud you'll probably be able to hear something
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Old Jul 23, 2015 | 03:17 PM
  #12  
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From: Saratoga Area, New York
Car: 1990 Formula Firebird
Engine: 305 TBI (LO3)
Transmission: WC T-5 out of an 88 T/A
Axle/Gears: 10 bolt, 3.42 & Torsen Posi
Re: Something metal fell off my car...

Originally Posted by TylerSteez
I'd see if you could have a friend or relative drive down the street slowly while you walk next to the car listening. As long as your exhaust isn't incredibly loud you'll probably be able to hear something
There is nothing dragging, so he's not going to hear anything. Like the title says something fell off. Its completely gone. Not dragging, not scraping, gone.
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Old Jul 23, 2015 | 03:20 PM
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Re: Something metal fell off my car...



Gone!
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Old Jul 23, 2015 | 03:28 PM
  #14  
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Car: 86 Trans Am WS6
Engine: 383 stroker
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 9 Bolt Torsen 3.70
Re: Something metal fell off my car...

Originally Posted by Formula 305
There is nothing dragging, so he's not going to hear anything. Like the title says something fell off. Its completely gone. Not dragging, not scraping, gone.
woahh sorry for a simple misunderstanding....
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Old Jul 23, 2015 | 03:35 PM
  #15  
Formula 305's Avatar
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From: Saratoga Area, New York
Car: 1990 Formula Firebird
Engine: 305 TBI (LO3)
Transmission: WC T-5 out of an 88 T/A
Axle/Gears: 10 bolt, 3.42 & Torsen Posi
Re: Something metal fell off my car...

Originally Posted by TylerSteez
woahh sorry for a simple misunderstanding....
OP corrected you the first time you posted on this thread... And its kind of in the title of the thread... Just sayin
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Old Jul 23, 2015 | 04:01 PM
  #16  
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Car: 86 Trans Am WS6
Engine: 383 stroker
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 9 Bolt Torsen 3.70
Re: Something metal fell off my car...

Originally Posted by Formula 305
OP corrected you the first time you posted on this thread... And its kind of in the title of the thread... Just sayin
Only human man, calm down
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Old Jul 23, 2015 | 05:48 PM
  #17  
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Car: 1984 Chevrolet Camaro Z28
Engine: 5.0 Liter 4-BBL V8 High Output
Transmission: 5-Speed Manual
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: Something metal fell off my car...

We Don't Even Know What Kind Of Car It Is.
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Old Jul 23, 2015 | 05:52 PM
  #18  
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From: St. Louis, MO
Car: 1986 Trans AM
Engine: 305
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: Something metal fell off my car...

Lol, sorry y'all. It's an '86 Trans AM. I finally have some time tonight to give it a close look, so I'll see what I find
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Old Jul 23, 2015 | 05:59 PM
  #19  
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Re: Something metal fell off my car...

Originally Posted by Blue419
Lol, sorry y'all. It's an '86 Trans AM. I finally have some time tonight to give it a close look, so I'll see what I find
Look at the end links on your front and especially rear sway bars . They have hardware that rusts/rots and can allow pieces to fall off . If one breaks it can drop up to 4 metal washers and one metal sleeve on the ground and that would have a metallic clanging sound as they hit the pavement .
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Old Jul 26, 2015 | 08:50 PM
  #20  
Blue419's Avatar
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From: St. Louis, MO
Car: 1986 Trans AM
Engine: 305
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: Something metal fell off my car...

The test results are in It was a busted exhaust hangar... which gives me an excuse to get started on putting a proper exhaust system on this car
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Old Jul 26, 2015 | 11:36 PM
  #21  
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From: Bowdon, GA.
Car: 1988 Camaro
Engine: 355, 10.34:1, 249/252 @.050", IK200
Transmission: TH-400, 3500 stall 9.5" converter
Axle/Gears: Ford 9", detroit locker, 3.89 gears
Re: Something metal fell off my car...

If you live anywhere close to the west part of Georgia I have 2 nice aftermarket exhaust systems for sale at a fair price.
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Old Jul 27, 2015 | 06:00 PM
  #22  
Blue419's Avatar
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From: St. Louis, MO
Car: 1986 Trans AM
Engine: 305
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: Something metal fell off my car...

Originally Posted by Night rider327
If you live anywhere close to the west part of Georgia I have 2 nice aftermarket exhaust systems for sale at a fair price.
Too bad... I'm in the St Louis area.
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Old Jul 28, 2015 | 07:22 AM
  #23  
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Car: 1989-92 FORMULA350 305 92 Hawkclone
Engine: 4++,350 & 305 CIs
Transmission: 700R4 4800 vig 18th700R4 t56 ZF6 T5
Axle/Gears: 3.70 9"ford alum chunk,dana44,9bolt
Re: Something metal fell off my car...

I'm 1 hr north of ST Louis. I have a stockish exhaust system from the cat back for stupid cheap if you want it.
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