[DeTomaso] Things that make you go, "Hmmm...."

[MikeLDrew at aol.com]

Hi guys,

Yesterday, while wrestling with my Pantera to change the front shocks, I 
pulled the driver's side wheel, and was very surprised to find this:

http://www.poca.com/index.php/gallery/?g2_itemId=12322

Apparently, the mounting bolts holding the Spherebar sway bar bracket to 
the A-arm backed out, and the cover made a successful bid for freedom at some 
unknown point in the past.   You can see where the bottom of the bracket has 
been resting on the A-arm.

What this means is that the sway bar was working in right-hand corners 
(because the left-side A-arm was pushing up on the underside of the bracket), 
but it was not working in left-hand corners (because as the car rolled to the 
right, the left side of the bar just lifted away from the A-arm).

I think this actually happened towards the end of the track event in Reno.  
 Somebody was riding with me, and we heard what sounded like something 
falling off the car--it was loud enough that the cornerworkers even heard it and 
reported it.   We pulled in and I gave the car a quick look-see, and found 
a blown exhaust gasket and missing bolts on the left-side collector.   I 
assumed the sound was just one of the bolts getting tangled up in the car 
before hitting the ground.

Not long after that, the car started to get really over-steery in left-hand 
corners, which we attributed to a badly overheated right rear tire.   But 
now I think it's because I had a dramatically unbalanced front/rear sway bar 
thing going on.

Anyway, I called Hall Pantera and Tara was kind enough to sell me a 
replacement cover and bolts.   I offered   up my address, and she laughed and said 
she knew it by heart, because of all the parts that Eurodudes have sent to 
my house over the years.   HAH!

Mike