Front strut tower stress cracks?

N Camarolina · 04-07-2023, 09:27 PM

I was doing maintenance on my SS 1LE and while looking up from the underside of the front wheel wells, I noticed what looks like hairline stress cracks in the underside of both front strut towers. These "cracks" run radially (irregularly in a broad circle near where the side of the strut tower meets the top surface; and a smaller "circle" more toward the center of the tower cap). The hairline cracks are easier to spot on the underside of the tower because they are black cracks against a primer paint color. The same hairline cracks can also be seen on the outside painted surface (looking into the engine bay), but are harder to spot given my car is red. There is no tearing or separation of the metal. My car has not been in an accident, but I do track it and have had one off incident where I went over the outside low gaters at about 85mph (but it didn't feel like much of a bump at the time).

I don't have photos from my car but saw these same cracks in another member's car posted from 2020 (look at the cracks I've circled and ignore the one that the area I have an "X" through).

Has anyone else observed these "cracks" in their Camaro? Are they actually stress cracks?

mrgoodbytes · 04-08-2023, 04:36 AM

The ones in the circles look normal (as in every 6th Gen. Camaro I’ve seen has them).

The strut towers are aluminum. Perhaps these are just imperfections from the casting?

easttxss · 04-10-2023, 11:05 AM

^ This. Cast parts will show imperfections like that in perfectly good parts. Unless you see some definite separation and fresh metal, I wouldn't worry about it. The one time I saw pics of a cracked strut tower was when the person hit a curb at speed. It was very evident there was a problem.

N Camarolina · 04-10-2023, 07:00 PM

Thanks guys. Definitely no fresh metal exposed like in the "X" portion of the above picture. The picture I posted above was in fact the one from the guy who hit a low curb at speed as part of accident avoidance maneuver).

Number 3 · 04-11-2023, 02:18 PM

Somewhat an old issue. This is carryover part from the Alpha architecture and the same casting exists in the CTS and ATS. Another reason why the Camaro is pricey is GM picked the best AND most expensive architecture to build it on. I would love to have seen a Camaro off of the Omega architecture which was lighter still than Alpha and would have enabled a larger car fixing many Camaro issues.

This issue is most likely due to a pot hole or other extreme event, not fatigue. If it was fatigue, it would be found on a lot of high mileage Camaros (and ATS/CTS).

But a search of Camaro 6 and YouTube will result in this crack in the aluminum casting.

Casper the friendly G · 04-11-2023, 04:10 PM

I just checked my Strut mounts. no Cracks at all.

Get yours checked asap.

Smokin19 · 04-11-2023, 04:47 PM

Google liquid penetrant testing (it's a dye you put on the surface) on how you can use this method to find cracks open to the surface. Using this test method will tell you if they are cracks or not.

N Camarolina · 04-12-2023, 07:26 PM

Thanks everyone for their input. To put this to bed, I am happy to report I've determined these markings are indeed normal (likely casting imperfections as Mr Goodbytes theorized), and not stress cracks.

I was at the shop today getting my car inspected for the track, when low and behold in the bay next to mine was a brand new 2023 SS 1LE . The mechanic allowed me to go under the lift and inspect the underside of the 2023's strut towers. They had black "crack" markings in a radial pattern that looked exactly like the ones on my 2021! It has to be casting imperfections that catch road dirt and turn black against the background primer color.

lt4camaro · 04-12-2023, 08:10 PM

Yes indeed, casting flaws that are in the aluminum casting. Nothing to worry about, they all have them.

Casper the friendly G · 04-13-2023, 12:23 AM

Mine don't have them but mine is a 17'.

Gunkk · 04-13-2023, 05:44 AM

I'm sure not gonna lose sleep over cracks that show up after someone "mustang'd" their Camaro.

rst08tierney · 04-13-2023, 08:39 AM

Mines a 23 and I don't have those but haven't smacked a curb. Did you buy used or new?

clg82 · 04-13-2023, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rst08tierney

Mines a 23 and I don't have those but haven't smacked a curb. Did you buy used or new?

Is your SS capable of going fast enough to smack a curb and do that to your strut? I'd love to choke out the engineer that decided to make a Camaro in the SS trim.

rst08tierney · 04-13-2023, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clg82

Is your SS capable of going fast enough to smack a curb and do that to your strut? I'd love to choke out the engineer that decided to make a Camaro in the SS trim.

For some on here like my self the SS holds much more meaning then the ZL1.

Considering the ZL1 Phase 1,2 &3 through the 4th Gens were so rare at the time it was never a reality for most. The SS on the other hand was obtainable for the common man in which you could bolt on added HP. Now anyone can go out, find and buy a ZL1. The badge unfortunately has become watered down but the build is an absolute beast that needs to be used properly. Its too much car for 90% of the drivers on the road.

For those who don't track and just want a piece of what's left of American history the SS with all the creature comforts is more than enough.

04-07-2023, 09:27 PM	#1
N Camarolina Drives: 2021 2SS 1LE Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 805	Front strut tower stress cracks? I was doing maintenance on my SS 1LE and while looking up from the underside of the front wheel wells, I noticed what looks like hairline stress cracks in the underside of both front strut towers. These "cracks" run radially (irregularly in a broad circle near where the side of the strut tower meets the top surface; and a smaller "circle" more toward the center of the tower cap). The hairline cracks are easier to spot on the underside of the tower because they are black cracks against a primer paint color. The same hairline cracks can also be seen on the outside painted surface (looking into the engine bay), but are harder to spot given my car is red. There is no tearing or separation of the metal. My car has not been in an accident, but I do track it and have had one off incident where I went over the outside low gaters at about 85mph (but it didn't feel like much of a bump at the time). I don't have photos from my car but saw these same cracks in another member's car posted from 2020 (look at the cracks I've circled and ignore the one that the area I have an "X" through). Has anyone else observed these "cracks" in their Camaro? Are they actually stress cracks? Attached Images

04-10-2023, 11:05 AM	#3
easttxss Drives: '16 2SS M6 Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Hughes Springs, TX Posts: 320	^ This. Cast parts will show imperfections like that in perfectly good parts. Unless you see some definite separation and fresh metal, I wouldn't worry about it. The one time I saw pics of a cracked strut tower was when the person hit a curb at speed. It was very evident there was a problem. __________________ David '16 2SS M6 black on black, SW long tube full exhaust, NPP, Roto-fab CAI, ported stock TB '16 2SS M6 black w/Metallic black stripes, Kalahari, 6 piston front (totaled 1/22/20) '14 Fusion Titanium 2.0T '83 Jeep Wagoneer

04-11-2023, 02:18 PM	#5
Number 3 Hail to the King baby! Drives: '19 XT4 2.0T & '22 VW Atlas 2.0T Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Illinois Posts: 12,172 View My Garage	Somewhat an old issue. This is carryover part from the Alpha architecture and the same casting exists in the CTS and ATS. Another reason why the Camaro is pricey is GM picked the best AND most expensive architecture to build it on. I would love to have seen a Camaro off of the Omega architecture which was lighter still than Alpha and would have enabled a larger car fixing many Camaro issues. This issue is most likely due to a pot hole or other extreme event, not fatigue. If it was fatigue, it would be found on a lot of high mileage Camaros (and ATS/CTS). But a search of Camaro 6 and YouTube will result in this crack in the aluminum casting. __________________ "Speed, it seems to me, provides the one genuinely modern pleasure." - Aldous Huxley

04-11-2023, 04:10 PM	#6
Casper the friendly G Account Suspended Drives: 17' Chevy Kamaro SS 6 speed Join Date: Mar 2022 Location: US Posts: 337	I just checked my Strut mounts. no Cracks at all.Get yours checked asap.

04-11-2023, 04:47 PM	#7
Smokin19 Drives: 19' ZL1 A10, w/pdr Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: S.W. ohio Posts: 1,555	Google liquid penetrant testing (it's a dye you put on the surface) on how you can use this method to find cracks open to the surface. Using this test method will tell you if they are cracks or not. __________________ BTR Stg II cam w/ 38% fuel lobe, ARH 2" headers into 3" w/cats, AWE Touring, Kong X port, Weapon X triple ht exchangers, NW 103, Rotofab big gulp, DSX lowside, TCM tune, BMR Lockout, Mustang dyno 720 rwhp, 634 rwtq on 93 pump.

04-08-2023, 04:36 AM	#2
mrgoodbytes Drives: '18 2SS/EU (+Recaros) M6 Red Hot Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Sweden Posts: 260	The ones in the circles look normal (as in every 6th Gen. Camaro I’ve seen has them). The strut towers are aluminum. Perhaps these are just imperfections from the casting?

04-10-2023, 07:00 PM	#4
N Camarolina Drives: 2021 2SS 1LE Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 805	Thanks guys. Definitely no fresh metal exposed like in the "X" portion of the above picture. The picture I posted above was in fact the one from the guy who hit a low curb at speed as part of accident avoidance maneuver).

04-12-2023, 07:26 PM	#8
N Camarolina Drives: 2021 2SS 1LE Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 805	Thanks everyone for their input. To put this to bed, I am happy to report I've determined these markings are indeed normal (likely casting imperfections as Mr Goodbytes theorized), and not stress cracks. I was at the shop today getting my car inspected for the track, when low and behold in the bay next to mine was a brand new 2023 SS 1LE . The mechanic allowed me to go under the lift and inspect the underside of the 2023's strut towers. They had black "crack" markings in a radial pattern that looked exactly like the ones on my 2021! It has to be casting imperfections that catch road dirt and turn black against the background primer color.

04-12-2023, 08:10 PM	#9
lt4camaro Drives: 2021 LT1 10 speed auto Join Date: May 2013 Location: Connecticut Posts: 2,343	Yes indeed, casting flaws that are in the aluminum casting. Nothing to worry about, they all have them.

04-13-2023, 12:23 AM	#10
Casper the friendly G Account Suspended Drives: 17' Chevy Kamaro SS 6 speed Join Date: Mar 2022 Location: US Posts: 337	Mine don't have them but mine is a 17'.

04-13-2023, 05:44 AM	#11
Gunkk Thank you Al Oppenheiser! Drives: Red Hot A10 ZL1 Convertible Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Sarasota, FL Posts: 4,975 View My Garage	I'm sure not gonna lose sleep over cracks that show up after someone "mustang'd" their Camaro.

04-13-2023, 08:39 AM	#12
rst08tierney Account Suspended Drives: '23 2SS Rapid Blue Join Date: Apr 2022 Location: CA Posts: 202	Mines a 23 and I don't have those but haven't smacked a curb. Did you buy used or new?

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