oldstata

Took it my self on my lift at work broke and they rigged it to get it here

Some one did an alignment isn't tighten down the lock but pulled treads over time

MDchanic

Dear God.

That's jail-worthy. It's not just neglect or an accident - it required time, effort, and intention.

I nominate that photo for the top of the list.

- Eric

marxjunk

this was on the PY board...i dont know if its shameful or ingenuity....

MDchanic

Actually, that looks quite stable. I like it.

- Eric

oldstata

I like it to it would look sweet on a rat rod

Rocketguy

Speaking of ingenuity, I saw this in a salvage yard. Some crafty soul had put a Buick PA front clip on an Olds "88":

johncj5

Is that factory certified Subaru tie rod wire?

lemoldsnut

I had a chance to help out my Dad a few years ago and went to Virginia to do so. He had a Chevy Tahoe that he bought new and it was in very nice shape and very low mile. He was very good at changing the oil every 3-4k and used good oil. He had a stroke and could not drive so I was getting it inspected and serviced for his wife to drive.
I am not a big fan of the inspections as they are done in Virginia because it seems to just help out the shops not the safety of the drivers. Plus is you drove in Virginia you would know the drivers are way worse than the cars.
I took it in and they said the ball joints were bad. It only has about 85k on it and I was surprised. I had only driven it about 8 blocks so had no idea how it really drove. I got it to the house and jacked it up and pulled the tires and yup they were total junk. So went and got a full set and installed them. Asked my Dad if he had been greasing them. He said yup. I have two Suburbans with the original ball joints and I grease them often and at 200k still ok. So, I was really surprised. But the truth came out when I got done installing them and could not find a grease gun or any grease in my Dad's garage. So, I said huh bullshit you never greased them. He was humbled by that but fessed up.

So, the inspection was good for him.

Gary M

You can tell because its lightweight, requires premium fuel and you can clearly see he is using regular or it wouldn't be failing. Warranty VOID!

oldstata

Lol well I don't think so but hey the wire is only half the problem in this pic

Beware of who preforming your alignment and all repairs

Indy_68_S

I think it would depend on the situation.

I (& I'm sure others here too) have had to cobble something together that wasn't pretty, or even safe, on some of my POS cars in the past and then carefully limped it along....all the while on edge & prepared for failure.

If the owner just had to get it around the corner to the shop, was aware of how tenuous the fix was, and drove it very carefully at like 5 mph max, I don't see a problem.

However, if this wasn't the case then I agree it is very reckless.

oldstata

I agree as well and he did limp it in the. Main topic here is that he had alignment done and the lock nut was never tighten down he never complained about a noise either it was clearly moving back and fourth for some time before it let go. Just imagine if he was doing 80mph and hit a bump when it had let loose instead of Walmart parking lot!

Something to think about

Personally I am a bit OCD with my alignments and check and even recheck them there is even times I relift the car after test drive and double check as I didn't remember locking them down my self I have been very lucky and haven't had any returned to me like this I really can't explain the sickness I would feel if one did

oldsguybry

I agree . if they spent that much time doing that , why didn't they just buy new tie rods and install them ? Then they took it to a garage ? Doesn't make sense .

oldcutlass

I think after all these years a lot of us can write a book on the creative uses of duct tape, bailing wire, and bubble gum.

MDchanic

Hey, I've done enough "gettin' it down the road by downshifting and using the e-brake," but a wired-together tie-rod is another level of jerry-rigging entirely.

I'll risk a slow stop, and having to leave a big following distance and drive slowly, but risking a sudden complete loss of directional control is another thing.

- Eric

Rocketguy

I agree. I have limped home many times with little or no brakes; you have other means to stop. However, you only have one way to steer.

If I were stranded in the country --and only on country roads-- and had to get home I may wire a tie rod that way but that level of Rube Goldburg is limited to just that; if another life was subjected . . . . that's just way off limits. It would be a bit like driving drunk.

MDchanic

I think I turned white as a sheet when I first installed my steering box and discovered that because of a tight spot in the rag joint recess I'd thought I'd tightened the pinch bolt, but actually hadn't tightened it at all, and the rag joint was about 1/8" away from coming off the splines after a test drive.

- Eric

ELY442

Have you ever seen a "duct tape wallet" that been sold in some stores?

Indy_68_S

Perhaps owner didn't have any proper tools ?

VI Cutty

People who have to buy their duct tape wallet don't qualify to actually have one. The real duct tape master will make their own!


http://duckbrand.com/craft-decor/act...FURbhgodiS8EiA

oldsguybry

What would be cheaper ? The few tools you would need to do this would be cheaper then the garage . They already have one of them since they twisted that wire on there with it . I figure since the outer tie rod would just fall off , you would need a new sleeve and tie rod at the very least .

MDchanic

Wrench.
Pliers (cotter pins).
Tie-rod end puller can be "free-rented" from any chain auto parts store.

How much time did it take lying in the gutter messing with the steering to get it wrapped up like that, compared to what it would take to pop two tie rods and change the parts?

- Eric

Professur

I've known people to look at tie rod ends as impossible to separate. I believe most people I know would opt for wiring and limping than attempting the change themselves. The sad face of the world we live in.

MDchanic

Ew.

marxjunk

some of my favs///just found them...while swapping computers around
20161004_012215_zpsrerppjro.jpg
20161004_013419_zpsbgmkrdl4.jpg
20161004_121229_zpslhgj1yop.jpg

MDchanic

Love that lift picture.

- Eric

Koda

Is the frying pan a drip catcher?

TripDeuces

Skid plate for off roading.

oldstata

I agree totally about replacing it would take as much or as little time as the wire. he was 3 blocks from us and made it safely there doing less then 5 mph after talking to him he had us do the work so he had a case against the shop that preformed the alignment

Now that I have seen both side I don't know if I personally would have done this. anything could have happened that could have been very bad
Not saying I haven't done stupid thing getting my cars home in the past

marxjunk

yes drip pan...plug leaked

johncj5

A garage that I worked t had a road service truck that was used for jump starts, changing flats and breaking into cars, had a serious oil leak. My boss wired a roasting pan underneath to catch the oil from the leaking rear main seal...
I asked the boss if he would trust the mechanics at a garage that had that ridiculous oil catching pan under their vehicle. The next day, he brought the truck in for me to fix the seal.

Indy_68_S

That's priceless !

Professur

No, I'd wager the price was discovered pretty quick.

marxjunk

notice the engineering in mounting the frying pan.....some thought went into it...misguided but some thought

RandyS

Took me a while to actually realize how they were lifting the car.........

marxjunk

uhh..fails are fails right? or are we talking just car stuff..lol

MDchanic

That last one is only because they don't make shoes for six toes.

- Eric

oldstata

Came across this pic hope it isn't 0649AFA8-718C-475A-869A-6C352BADA3DF.jpg

marxjunk

it hasnt had its dew-claws removed

oldstata

Wow man my point all over again watch who does your alignments

Inner tie rod replaced not sure where car has 9k on it came in steering wheel not centered

Not the best pic but boot zip tied on well it fell off
2CD8EC93-71C9-43F7-979D-E535C889511A.jpg

Can any one guess what these bolts go to ?
0AA1F2B3-C3C7-4585-8095-005723F4A47B.jpg