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From: Lansing, MI via Bowling Green, KY, Dalton GA, Nashville, TN & Atlanta, GA
The MOOG and AC Delco are likely the exact same part, at least in regards to the mounts and insulators. When I installed shocks and springs, I ordered both brands from Rock Auto. I want to say both brands came from India. They likely come off the same line and get put in different boxes. I used the AC Delcos and returned the MOOGs, just because. The MOOGS may have been a bit cheaper, but there wasn't a huge difference.
think im referring to #53? #3 is the strut mount I believe. #53 is a steel plate that prevents the shock from pulling out...#53 should go before the nut is applied, similar to a washer effect.
This exact thing happened to me once, it was one of a few bad experiences I had very early in my life as a car enthusiast that made me realize one very simple thing;
Stop letting people work in your car. Do it yourself. No excuses. I don’t care how much money you have or how lazy you are - do your own work or forever expect **** like this to happen - possibly endangering your life in the process.
I agree with the sentiment and I do all my own work too, but I don't necessarily think it's the answer for everyone. When a mechanic makes a mistake it gets pretty magnified because they are supposed to know what they are doing, but I'm sure the majority of incorrect installs and issues like this are from "enthusiasts" trying to do it on their own and not knowing any better. If there are people that really don't know what they're doing with a car, I'd much rather a mechanic be touching it than them.
Really all you can say is that if you do all your own work you can be as particular or **** about it as you want, and if anything bad happens you have nobody to blame but yourself. Problem is most people aren't as particular or thorough as they should be.
I agree with the sentiment and I do all my own work too, but I don't necessarily think it's the answer for everyone. When a mechanic makes a mistake it gets pretty magnified because they are supposed to know what they are doing, but I'm sure the majority of incorrect installs and issues like this are from "enthusiasts" trying to do it on their own and not knowing any better. If there are people that really don't know what they're doing with a car, I'd much rather a mechanic be touching it than them.
Really all you can say is that if you do all your own work you can be as particular or **** about it as you want, and if anything bad happens you have nobody to blame but yourself. Problem is most people aren't as particular or thorough as they should be.
Agree 100%with comments above. However, I’m not a licensed mechanic. I’m a construction contractor. We each have niches or areas of expertise. Some more than most obliviously. I’d expect a licensed mechanic at a high performance shop to know more about repairs or modifications than I would. Doesn’t seem to always be the case. Lesson learned; make time to do it yourself or ensure your mechanic knows proper steps and configurations. I blame myself for becoming too comfortable with this shop.
Update: everything was fixed and replaced by shop, the shop owner and I went through the suspension with the mechanic and went through the reinstall. Lesson learned
Guys quick question...with the collapse of the front suspension (pics on beginning of post) is it possible The rack and pinion took on extra stress to create the power steering leak I experienced days before I realized front end suspension was installed incorrectly??
Also, We noticed that the caster was off (upper ball joint sat forward of the lower ball joint). The top strut mounting bracket attached to the wrong control arm.
Yeah man you may have more damage as a result. I had a high pucker factor once when I went to press the brakes and the pedal fell straight to the floor. I was approaching a pick up truck at the stop sign on a side street to a four lane highway with a suicide lane. Nothing I could do but drive around the stopped truck and brace for potential impact. I was doing about 35 when I passed the guy and immediately cut the wheel hard right as I slid out into the intersection. Lucky for me nobody was coming down that road at the same time. I got out of the car looked to the sky to thank my dear lord and looked back only to see that same truck at the stop sign. I had recently had a new clutch, flywheel, pilot bearing and clutch master installed by a local transmission shop. The keeper was never reinstalled on the brake causing the arm to slide of the actuator. I called them and they told me they never messed with the brake pedal when I know it makes replacing the clutch master easier to install with the brake pedal out of the way to give you some more room. Never again will I trust my vehicles to be properly serviced, especially the Camaro.
That was many years ago when it was a stock motor and transmission. Oh and I forgot to mention when I finally was able to build my engine and install all my new mods. Some idiot with a pry bar had dented up the areas of my car around the bell housing and where the stick shift goes up into the cab. And that's why people don't work on my cars anymore.
Agree 100%with comments above. However, I’m not a licensed mechanic. I’m a construction contractor. We each have niches or areas of expertise. Some more than most obliviously. I’d expect a licensed mechanic at a high performance shop to know more about repairs or modifications than I would. Doesn’t seem to always be the case. Lesson learned; make time to do it yourself or ensure your mechanic knows proper steps and configurations. I blame myself for becoming too comfortable with this shop.
Update: everything was fixed and replaced by shop, the shop owner and I went through the suspension with the mechanic and went through the reinstall. Lesson learned
The percentage of mechanics out there that are SAE certified is fairly low.. (Only 1 needed in a shop if he is the "supervisor" )
The end requirement for me is does the guy have the experience,, not the cert. I was doing full suspension rebuilds in high school at a regular shop for money.. (1979/80)
They liked my work, I was careful and I could turn and burn em so they made a lot of $$, I only worked about 3 hours each afternoon..
I've been reading this thread for days and it makes me sick to see that this has happened to you. i'm in the me too here, I do all of my own work and have done so since High School (1973) damn i'm old lol. I don't know how much you have spent on this already but.......... I would try to find a qualified mechanic to do the repair and then present the bill to this "shoemaker" (no offense to shoemakers) and if he does not want to reimburse you I would go the small claims court to recoup the cash, and Trash his credibility with the public. From your post it doesn't appear that you are strapped for cash.
Having said this. I'm like the TV programs when I rebuild things on my Z28. Take it down to the metal, prime, paint and install new parts. I replaced every bushing in the front and rear of my car.
Did they reinstall the bumpstop and dustboot that was also missing from the original picture?
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