Homepage Garage Wiki Register Social Groups Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
#Camaro6
Go Back   CAMARO6 > Technical Camaro Topics > Suspension | Brakes | Chassis


Bigwormgraphix


Post Reply
 
Thread Tools
Old 05-27-2019, 12:53 PM   #1
69ss350
 
Drives: 69 Camaro SS
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Maryland
Posts: 9
Strut Tower Cracked on 1LE

I was looking at a 2018 1LE Camaro for sale, and when I went to look under the hood I noticed the strut tower was cracked at the top where the upper strut is bolted up.

The owner told me he hit a pothole on the drivers-side, and he didn't notice anything until he looked under the hood and found the crack.

I don't think this is a good thing.....the upper strut mount itself looks like its destroyed because the "bell shaped cone" is staying up higher than the right side.

Take a look at the pics and tell me what you folks think. I was told that BMR makes a strut tower brace that can keep this part of the tower together, but I'm not too sure about that.

Would you buy this car???
Attached Images
  
69ss350 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2019, 01:23 PM   #2
turbojeep95
 
turbojeep95's Avatar
 
Drives: 17 Camaro lt, 22 Camaro LT1
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Beaver, PA
Posts: 411
I'd take a pass on that buddy. Its a structural part that if compromised in any way (cracks, rust, broken bolts, ect.) won't even pass a PA state inspection. It must of been a bomb crater to do that kind of damage! Might want to inspect the alignment, strut, and steering components for more damage.
turbojeep95 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2019, 02:08 PM   #3
F419sr1
 
F419sr1's Avatar
 
Drives: 2017 ZL1
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Randolph
Posts: 317
Quote:
Originally Posted by 69ss350 View Post
I was looking at a 2018 1LE Camaro for sale, and when I went to look under the hood I noticed the strut tower was cracked at the top where the upper strut is bolted up.

The owner told me he hit a pothole on the drivers-side, and he didn't notice anything until he looked under the hood and found the crack.

I don't think this is a good thing.....the upper strut mount itself looks like its destroyed because the "bell shaped cone" is staying up higher than the right side.

Take a look at the pics and tell me what you folks think. I was told that BMR makes a strut tower brace that can keep this part of the tower together, but I'm not too sure about that.




Would you buy this car???
Walk away. I would be curious to see what the insurance estimate would be on the repair or if they would total it being structural
__________________
Kooks full exhaust, Roto Fab, Whipple,Williams 103, Fore innovation, JRE cam and tuning
F419sr1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2019, 02:40 PM   #4
ICTsccaCamaro
ITCRNRS
 
ICTsccaCamaro's Avatar
 
Drives: 2018 ZL1 1LE
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Wichita KS
Posts: 1,575
The car is totalled, stay far away from it. The guy should call his insurance so they can write it off and tow it away
__________________
2018 ZL1 1LE Ordered 6/29/17 Built 11/6/17 Delivered 12/7/17, Summit White, PDR, NAV, https://www.youtube.com/c/tylerpotter
SOLD: 2014 Summit White 1LE 2SS/RS, Recaros, NPP, NAV, KONI Yellow's SOLD: 2012 Black 2LT/RS, Fully 1LE swapped, Brembo swap
ICTsccaCamaro is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2019, 02:56 PM   #5
mrgoodbytes
 
mrgoodbytes's Avatar
 
Drives: '18 2SS/EU (+Recaros) M6 Red Hot
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Sweden
Posts: 260
I agree, walk away from that one.
mrgoodbytes is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2019, 06:18 PM   #6
m3bs
 
m3bs's Avatar
 
Drives: '19 ZLE, S54 E36M3
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: North Augusta, SC
Posts: 227
Some Porsche GT3 and GT4 models have similar issues with the cast aluminum towers, only they usually punch clear through, not just crack. It is fixable, but expensive, and certainly calls into question the car’s potential abuse. Keep looking, unless they are giving it away.

https://rennlist.com/forums/gt4/9483...r-failure.html
m3bs is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2019, 08:58 PM   #7
Gunkk
Thank you Al Oppenheiser!
 
Gunkk's Avatar
 
Drives: Red Hot A10 ZL1 Convertible
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Sarasota, FL
Posts: 4,965
nope.
Attached Images
 
Gunkk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-27-2019, 09:45 PM   #8
Vtor_ZL1
Who Needs to KNOW?
 
Vtor_ZL1's Avatar
 
Drives: 18 ZLE
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Left Side of the Moon
Posts: 1,766
If it as mine, drill the root, weld it back - but as potential buy.. nope the F out.
__________________
ing for grip.


Are you in the NY/NJ/PA/CT region? Join us for autox fun at MetLife Stadium. HUGE lots, tons of runs.

http://www.motorsportsne.com/
Vtor_ZL1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-28-2019, 05:38 AM   #9
krazzyk01
Liv'n The Dream!
 
krazzyk01's Avatar
 
Drives: 2013 Black 2SS RS 1LE
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Austin, Texas
Posts: 644
Since it's a 2018 I'd be looking to Chevy to replace the entire car under warranty! I mean really! It's one year old and a main component of the unibody has failed! WTF. Don't just walk away, RUN!
__________________
Never be afraid to try something new. The Ark was built by amateurs and the Titanic was built by pros.
krazzyk01 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-28-2019, 06:59 AM   #10
6spdhyperblue


 
Drives: 6th gen
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: US
Posts: 3,664
More like hitting a curb. I would have to think the tire and wheel were replaced too. Look for scrapes underneath
6spdhyperblue is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-28-2019, 07:31 AM   #11
JeromeS13

 
Drives: 2017 1SS/1LE
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: FL Panhandle
Posts: 1,559
Quote:
Originally Posted by krazzyk01 View Post
Since it's a 2018 I'd be looking to Chevy to replace the entire car under warranty! I mean really! It's one year old and a main component of the unibody has failed! WTF. Don't just walk away, RUN!
Not sure that I agree with it being warrantied... It's likely a result of impact, not a defect.. If anything, it should have been covered under insurance...
JeromeS13 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-28-2019, 06:24 PM   #12
69ss350
 
Drives: 69 Camaro SS
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Maryland
Posts: 9
Thanks for all the input...I appreciate it.

I wonder what that tower is made from??

Aluminum / magnesium? Looks like plastic to me.

It looks like that tower can be replaced...I see rivets around the perimeter of the casting.

They can be bought from GM. Its called an Apron Assembly - GM (84372616).

Any body / chassis shop guys dare to chime in?
69ss350 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-28-2019, 10:42 PM   #13
vtirocz


 
vtirocz's Avatar
 
Drives: 2017 Camaro 1SS M6
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Indy
Posts: 2,460
Quote:
Originally Posted by 69ss350 View Post
Thanks for all the input...I appreciate it.

I wonder what that tower is made from??

Aluminum / magnesium? Looks like plastic to me.

It looks like that tower can be replaced...I see rivets around the perimeter of the casting.

They can be bought from GM. Its called an Apron Assembly - GM (84372616).

Any body / chassis shop guys dare to chime in?
Regarding your question on what the tower is made of: It's cast aluminum.
__________________
2017 Camaro 1SS, M6, Hurst shifter, Hyper Blue, NPP, Gray Split Spoke Wheels

Best 1/4 Mile: 12.24 @ 115.9 mph
vtirocz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-29-2019, 06:35 AM   #14
VinnAY
Account Suspended
 
Drives: 18 1SS/1LE
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Missouri
Posts: 939
Quote:
Originally Posted by 69ss350 View Post
Thanks for all the input...I appreciate it.

I wonder what that tower is made from??

Aluminum / magnesium? Looks like plastic to me.

It looks like that tower can be replaced...I see rivets around the perimeter of the casting.

They can be bought from GM. Its called an Apron Assembly - GM (84372616).

Any body / chassis shop guys dare to chime in?
You need to just drop what you're thinking about and listen to those telling you to walk away from it.
VinnAY is offline   Reply With Quote
 
Post Reply

Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:29 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.