I think I bent something...

97stscaddy

97stscaddy

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I swear this wasnt there when I inspected the car before I bought it. I did botom the car out on a speed bump about a week ago, but it didnt seem like it hit hard enough to do THIS!

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Does anyone know what useful purpose these bars serve? As far as I can tell the front suspension is braced plenty enough on its own that it doesn't need reinforcement from the frame of the car to hold it in place. So im guessing that these 2 bars are there to protect the underside of the car just in case you DO bottom it out on something. The catalytic converters are RIGHT next to where this bar got bent, so had it NOT been for that bar, I would be possibly looking at a pretty pricey repair right now. I just need to know if this is something that should be replaced or if it's ok to leave it alone?
 
That's an additional reinforcement added late in the 2000 model year. It helps with frontal impacts. That's the normal shape.
 
That's the normal shape.
Click to expand...
I duno how you cant see that, its bent, trust me.
The first picture, right in the middle of the bar is the rash from the impact, and its bent up about an inch higher than the bar on the other side.
I guess since it has to do with the structural integrity of the car I should go ahead and replace it. God only knows what that'll cost me.
 
one thing you have to learn about the LS is to go super slow over speed bumps.
 
97stscaddy said:
I duno how you cant see that, its bent, trust me.
The first picture, right in the middle of the bar is the rash from the impact, and its bent up about an inch higher than the bar on the other side.
I guess since it has to do with the structural integrity of the car I should go ahead and replace it. God only knows what that'll cost me.
Click to expand...

I see it now. The bar does have a slight curve to it, like the one on the right, but that left one sure does look bent. I don't think a speed bump would do that, unless you came down hard enough to shake out your fillings! That's one strong piece of metal.
 
That's why I didnt think I did it. It bottomed out and it hit pretty hard, but it looks to me like something that would happen if it had been driven off a curb or something. I must have just missed that before...
You cant really see it when you're directly undeneath the car. I didnt notice it until I was standing beside it checking the tire wear on the left front there.
Its bent up right against the frame though, and the one on the other side has about 3/16" gap between the frame and the bar.
 
97stscaddy said:
That's why I didnt think I did it. It bottomed out and it hit pretty hard, but it looks to me like something that would happen if it had been driven off a curb or something. I must have just missed that before...
You cant really see it when you're directly undeneath the car. I didnt notice it until I was standing beside it checking the tire wear on the left front there.
Its bent up right against the frame though, and the one on the other side has about 3/16" gap between the frame and the bar.
Click to expand...

Something hit it. Can you see the scrape marks in the first picture, near the bend??
 
I wouldn't worry about it.

IF you impact something, that bar will still do it's job. My early 2000 doesn't have it, and it too will hold up fine in a wreck without it.

They had to pass NHTSA crash tests before being sold, and the cars used didn't have the bars either.

But good job cracking up the underside of your ride :D! Happens to the best of us, I know I've scraped it up a bit from time to time, nothing serious/permanent.
 
Because of all the scraping and speed bump bouncing - I will never lower the LS again - and I was super careful not to drive fast. This '06 will not feel the pain my '02 did. I still cringe everytime I drive over a speed bump or steep driveway.
 
Looks like someone might have put a jack under it like a dumb ass, like a previouse owner or maybe it was dropped?

Ps: does anyone else notice the Toyota add at the bottom of the page?
 
Mine looks bent a little also. I think I'll take it off and try and straighten it. There only made of aluminum so it probably doesn't take a lot to bend them.
 
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