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Sorry for the slow reply gents, I've been out today. Thanks for all the input too!

I've attached some pics for you all to look at, I think the strut towers look fine to me(just dirty (which I'm rectifying tomorrow!)).

Does anyone know why there's a kink in the strut bar? It's like they've purposefully engineered in a weak point.

Maybe they're designed to crumple in a large impact crash instead of kebabbing the occupants
Rob

I think I have a spare strut brace if you want it op? Your correct I think mr bear they are designed to crumple in the middle so they don't stick drivers or passengers!!

Indeed, the bend is normal and meant to crumple.
To me the right strut now looks a little strange, in particular what looks like a small gap between the front nut/washer. Perhaps it's a trick of the light but I can't think of anything other than a front end knock which would have sheared the strut bar like that tbh, I'm by no means an expert here so I hope somebody can correct me.
Then again if it was existing damage you'd have thought you'd have noticed it straight away, not 3 weeks later.
Apologies OP if I'm putting a downer on you!

Thanks @MachineMonkey how much would you like for it? That's very kind.

I hope it wasn't crashed but I guess you never know... I bought it privately and it seemed straight and the guy worked for the AA and seemed honest. He wouldn't budge on his price which always makes me feel good in a strange way as it makes me feel they have confidence in the car!

Yeah, it's most likely nothing. Get the strut arm replaced and the geo checked then enjoy

Not seen that before. I have had to weld a couple of mounting brackets up for members, but the brace itself has been fine.

Does look like a very clean break which is worrying..

Mike

Hmmm looked at my struts
Mine have bracket on the mount that has a fixed bolt
Then the nut goes onto once strut in place
Looking at pic I can't see any indentation for crumple but I'll look tomorrow when get car out:)

Looks too clean to be a break to me, an impact with enough force to snap it would surely bend it first and require quite a bit of movement of the shock tower. But seems to line up perfectly. If the one from the other side fits then I wouldn't be worried about an impact, just the mental state of whoever did it!

If it was cut you have to wonder why and how long it's been driven like that. As a structural item don't drive until fixed.

Scooba_Steve wrote: ↑Sun May 14, 2017 11:45 am Looks too clean to be a break to me, an impact with enough force to snap it would surely bend it first and require quite a bit of movement of the shock tower. But seems to line up perfectly. If the one from the other side fits then I wouldn't be worried about an impact, just the mental state of whoever did it!

If it was cut you have to wonder why and how long it's been driven like that. As a structural item don't drive until fixed.

Just another thought
Wouldn't if a smack so to speak has happened with enough force to allegedly split this bar
Wouldn't the brackets both on strut tower and the bulk head be damaged ?
Hence forcing the strut to move upward and snap?

Just me thinking allowed
I think it's been cut personally
Op, could you post a couple of up close and personal pics of the break please as we could see better if a stress fracture/ failure or cut ?

What do you reckon?

The only reason I noticed is because it started making noise against the bonnet, which it wasn't doing when I picked it up.

So if it was cut then it's only just come apart, so to speak.

Real head scratcher...

Hey buddy
It has a few little bits of where it looks like been stressed
But blimey that is one clean break
I'd expect some form of zigzag along break
But also I'd expect some form of marking along edges from where a blade would have made a rasp or back and forth type score along it

Still looks far to neat for a break to me
As if were at a crumple zone you would expect distortion from were burst upward or downward or even splayed edging
Plus as said breakage at anchor points on car ???
Odddddd

Given that it's a ten year old car and the brace has broken at the thinnest point, could it just be old metal + vibration at work?

Looks like fatigue to me rather than a cut.

Mike

Then why has no one else's?
Mine are fine
Is expect a more stressed looking fracture
That's as clean as it gets
Replace keep an eye on it buddy