How did this happen?!?!?!?

[ruracin61]

I was driving on a track were we get and average speed of 70mph.
I drove in to the corner at full speed and all of a sudden, the whole left side  of the car bounced up!
What happened was a part which is a part in the pics, broke and the left front wheel slid under the car and the frame  and bent the rim and went through the tire. I think the part was cracked before cause part of the the tube, had dust on it which means dust got in the crack.  I was at a rough track called Rockford speedway and the steering wheel was turning by it self left and right. Then a raced at Illiana. Last, I race today at Grundy and thats when it snapped. I kept it off the wall and a steered the right side from flipping luckily. Undecided Embarrassed
Check out the pics.

[ruracin61]

The body damaged from the tire hitting it.

[ruracin61]

The red line is were it broke!

[elimn8u_43]

It looks in the pictures that the lower control arm is of the old design. The new ones have gussetts on the bottom where this one broke.

Geoff

[ruracin61]

Ya, some at the track was talking about a new and old design. Thanks!  

[elimn8u_43]

I switched ours out over the winter keeping the old ones for spares at the track.

Geoff

[mch46]

This type and location of break usually happens when the radius rods are adjusted tightly AFTER the lower A has been tighted to the chassis.  The A is bevelled on the bottom so it can rotate on the chassis.  You should adjust the radius rods first, while the A is loose at the two bolts connecting to the chassis, THEN tighten the lower A bolts so that the A arm is not in a bind.  Probably, when you tightened the lower A first, it was put in a bind as you adjusted the radius rods.  Just my thoughts, it could've been just a rough track or a hit to the wheel !!

[ruracin61]

Thanks! I will do that when I am putting the new pieces on! The peice that broke has not been replaced for a couple years from the previous owners. ( think, it look old)

Thanks again!
Tristan