Qustion RE: Lola t342

[Mike Jones]

I have had two recent problems with the upper engine stabilizer breaking. This is V-shaped device that attaches to the engine struts and the rear cross member. The first time it broke I did some serious agriculture work. The second break caused a 360 spin that cost a first place finish. Has anyone had this problem? We really welded the break well. However, this may not be the fix. Do I need a new part or is there any major fix?

[Blah]

They tend to crack at the left side by the engine mount. Both our cars have an uprated brace, however they still eventually crack. A bit like exhaust headers.

[Mike Jones]

So what is an "up rated brace." I had a much bigger cross brace made. However, I can't get through a weekend without braking this thing. When it goes, I'm sent for a major ride.

Any suggestions?

Mike

[Jeff Jagusch]

Something else must be broken in the rear for the brace to break and cause a spin?
Not adding up?
Contact Pat Prince. Prince race car engineering, he should be able to supply all fabricated suspension parts

[Charles Warner]

So what is an "up rated brace." I had a much bigger cross brace made. However, I can't get through a weekend without braking this thing. When it goes, I'm sent for a major ride.

Any suggestions?

Mike

I would guess you have a broken joint somewhere on the rear - frame, engine mount, gearbox mount. The brace, while intact, is compensating. To cause an instant spin I would suggest the break is affecting toe or camber to the extreme. You probably will have to pull the engine and gearbox, strip the frame, blast it and inspect very carefully. Repair then repaint. This should be done every few years anyway. Do you have the history of the chassis? Ever been damaged? Repaired by whom?

[RussMcB]

A thought: "Tie down" the right and left sides of the front of the car (somehow), put a single jack stand under the middle, center of the car, then use one or two jacks on the rear corners to induce twisting (one person jacking while another watches) to see where there is unwanted movement. Alternatively (to jacking), maybe you can bolt a long bar to the rear so you can pull/push to induce twisting while watching.

[Brian]

That brace just adds a tiny bit of stiffness to the rear cross-member. It breaking shouldn't cause a radical change in handling. I'd definitely look for what else is possibly broken back there. the design where it attaches to the engine mount bolts (little tab of metal in bending) virtually guarantees that it isn't all that stiff a joint there.

Brian

[Tim FF19]

The engine bays in these cars are pretty delicate compared to current stuff. Take a close look at the entire frame behind the roll bar for busted or cracked tubes. My car had many many repairs in this area over the years.

[Mike Jones]

[FONT=Monaco]Thanks for the information, It looks like we will have to do a much closer look at the frame. The car handles great other than when this cross bar breaks. It then runs great with it broken Go figure. It has had one good hit to the front when it spun on a whole bunch of oil that cuased others to spin and end up together. Pat Prince built a bunch of stuff for the car. I will call him. I loved the comment on skydiving![/FONT]
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[FONT=Monaco]Thanks, [/FONT]
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[FONT=Monaco]Mike[/FONT]