Something metal fell off my car...
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
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?
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?
Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 446
Likes: 1
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...
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
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?
Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 446
Likes: 1
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.
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,494
Likes: 99
From: CT
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 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?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: St. Louis, MO
Car: 1986 Trans AM
Engine: 305
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: Something metal fell off my car...
I mean it sounded like something fell COMPLETELY off the car. There is nothing dragging or anything.
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,906
Likes: 240
From: Chicagoland Suburbs
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...
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.
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.
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,938
Likes: 99
From: Huntsville AL
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??????
Member
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 145
Likes: 1
From: Cambridge, MD
Car: 88 Firebird, 87 Formula
Engine: 2.8, 5.0
Transmission: both 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.42,3.45
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,494
Likes: 99
From: CT
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
Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 446
Likes: 1
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...
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.
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,494
Likes: 99
From: CT
Car: 86 Trans Am WS6
Engine: 383 stroker
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 9 Bolt Torsen 3.70
Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 446
Likes: 1
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
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,494
Likes: 99
From: CT
Car: 86 Trans Am WS6
Engine: 383 stroker
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 9 Bolt Torsen 3.70
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
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
Re: Something metal fell off my car...
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 . Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
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
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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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 2,535
Likes: 17
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.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: St. Louis, MO
Car: 1986 Trans AM
Engine: 305
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 12,221
Likes: 1,141
From: Il
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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