I HAVE A 1991 OLDSMOBILE CUSTOM CRUISER (STATION WAGON). FOR THE LAST TWO DAYS, VEHICLE HAS BEEN "SWIGGLY" WHEN COMING TO A STOP. NOT SO BAD YESTERDAY, NOTICEABLY WORSE TODAY. A STUCK FRONT CALIPER WAS SUSPECTED. HOWEVER, ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK TODAY VEHICLE BECAME VERY UNSTABLE WHILE DECELERATING FROM APPROX. 50 MPH. VEHICLE WAS IMMEDIATELY PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND INSPECTED FOR A FLAT TIRE, ETC. NO OBVIOUS PROBLEM WAS FOUND. UPON ATTEMPTING TO RE-ENTER TRAFFIC, THE DRIVER SIDE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM BRACKET WAS RIPPED FROM THE REAR AXLE HOUSING CAUSING THE TIRE TO HIT THE FRONT OF THE WHEEL WELL CAUSING BODY DAMAGE. WHEN FOOT WAS REMOVED FROM THE ACCELERATOR, THE TIRE THEN SLAMMED INTO THE BACK OF THE WHEEL WELL CAUSING MORE BODY DAMAGE, AND BRINGING THE CAR TO A SCREECHING HALT, LUCKILY STILL ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE DRIVE SHAFT WAS ALSO PULLED FROM THE TRANSMISSION AND IS NOW WEDGED TIGHT. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED HOME. INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE BRACKET THAT RIPPED LOOSE HAD BEEN ATTACHED TO THE AXLE TUBE WITH TWO SHORT WELDS, AS IS DONE DURING FIXTURING, AND NEVER FULLY WELDED. THE OTHER SIDE BRACKET IS FULLY WELDED. IF THIS WOULD HAD HAPPENED AT SPEED, THE CONSEQUENCES PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY AS THE CAR WOULD HAVE GONE INTO AN UNCONTROLLED SKID INTO OPPOSING TRAFFIC. *NM
- NHTSA ID
- 10138067
- Incident
- Sep 28, 2005
- Mileage
- 131,000 mi