Fluffyz 280zx

[DJZ]

If you can bring the struts to my work in Epsom Road we can have a go at getting them off?

[Fluffyz]

If you can bring the struts to my work in Epsom Road we can have a go at getting them off?

What time are you there til? I can only get off work at about 5 and it'll take a bit of time to get the right one off as well.

[DJZ]

I'll be around till probably 6:30 or so, text me if you want me to have a go 021 161 8827.

[Fluffyz]

I don't know how everyone else spent their Thursday night, but I spent mine learning an expensive and potentially very dangerous lesson. As the car owner, triple check everything is bolted up correctly. Don't assume that it has been unless you've seen it checked three time.


Some mates were working on the left side (pictured) as I was working on the right. They've tried to take responsibility but really it was an honest mistake on their part and a major screw up on my part since I should have made sure everything was correct given that it's my car.

We were doing 50km/h down Wrights Road, then very quickly the car was a bit lower on the front left and there was a nasty scraping sound. I expected a wheel falling off to be much more dramatic for the driver but it really wasn't, just kept calm, braked gently and pulled or veered to the left. Came to rest more or less in a safe position. I expected to have to be towed but the AA guy was adamant that we could just jack it up, put the wheel back on and drive it home. He was right, but it was a nerve-racking journey home.

So from a quick inspection; doesn't seem to be any damage to the rotor, the bolts that hold the strut case to the steering bit have had their heads taken off but seem to still be lodged in there, there is some reasonable body damage in the front left wheel arch and that body panel in general but I haven't checked much else since it was just too dark at that stage last night. At this stage I'll be taking it to Acton Automotive under Bart's suggestion when I have someone free to give me a lift home.

I'm taking this one as a learning experience. Really I'm just glad that the only thing the wheel hit was a hedge and that no-one was hurt. I was very lucky, this could have gone a lot worse. In other news a fuel pump seems to have arrived but after this incident my confidence in my mechanical skills has taken a blow so installation probably won't be done immediately.

Apologies for the wall of text. Oh and if you happen to be driving down Wrights Road towards Cashmere, look for the massive scrape along the tarmac which stops just before Cardigan Bay Place. That was me...

[DJZ]

Everybody makes mistakes, especially if you are only starting out. Let me know if you need any bits and I'll see what I can find.

[Fluffyz]

Everybody makes mistakes, especially if you are only starting out. Let me know if you need any bits and I'll see what I can find.

Thanks man, I don't at the moment but I'll let you know. Dad said he'd help me out on this one but said he'd prefer if it went to the mechanic of his choice so it's at Milligan Automotive probably until Tuesday.

[sunny79datto]

good to see ya got it home,wouldve keept a eye on it if not,was wondering how ya got it sorted in the end got dark not long after..i couldnt belive the timing we were in the garage then hear this scraping noise was waiting to watch something drive past then ya see ya slid to a halt right outside the driveway.good to hear its not to much damage goodluck with it.

[Fluffyz]

good to see ya got it home,wouldve keept a eye on it if not,was wondering how ya got it sorted in the end got dark not long after..i couldnt belive the timing we were in the garage then hear this scraping noise was waiting to watch something drive past then ya see ya slid to a halt right outside the driveway.good to hear its not to much damage goodluck with it.

Haha thanks man. Cheers for trying to help out as well, it was very kind of you.

[torqued]

FIngers crossed its sorted for tomorrow

[2 doors]

man that brings back memories of a test drive in a car my mate was looking at buying, owner had put the wheels back on that morning and not done the nuts up, wheel came off at 50 ks an hr , (after having been doing 110)