A few ? Hit a curb at 5mph bent sub-Frame/control arm big $$

99xjclassic · **Joined:** Thu Aug 30, 2007 9:15 pm **Posts:** 43

My girlfriend has an 02 liberty that she loves. Just the other day when the roads here in Michigan were very icy, she lost control turning into a parking lot (aprox 5MPH) and hit a curb/divider which threw her alignment off. Took it into the shop, told us they could not align it. Took it to a frame shop and found out the news. The control arm took the impact and pushed the passenger side of the sub-frame back 1/2 inch. Thankfully this is covered under our insurance at the expense of a "at-fault" accident. So they are replacing the sub-frame with one from a 05 and giving us a new lower control arm. With a grand total of a $1500 bill. I couldnt believe such a little impact could do so much damage! I just wanted to warn everyone to drive careful and be aware of the damage that can be done with such little impact.

Questions: Will a 05 sub-frame be the exact same as our 02 sub frame? I never did quite understand the pre-lowered lingo.

What is all involved in replacing the sub-frame? Do they need to take the engine/trans out? What should I expect as far as replaced parts (struts,any other suspension components)

I am unfamilar with the shops work, so any information you can give me to give it a final inspection when the repairs are done would be very helpful and appreciated.

Thanks, Denton Wingeier

WoodysKJ · **Posted:** Wed Feb 13, 2008 9:11 am

Others will weigh in on this but I find it difficult to see how that much damage could be done at that speed. First off do they mean the frame rail? never heard it called a sub frame. KJ's like many others and you XJ, are Unibody. They have frame rails but no real "Frame."

Upper and lower control arms are not that expensive, especially if they are used. The frame rail should be the same for all 02-07's and should be no problem. They willcut out the bent area and weld in the new section and re-weld the effected unibody.

As far as the struts and other suspension components... How many miles on the KJ? Has it ever had the ball joints and struts changed? if not then being an 02 it might be a good time to go ahead and change them. As far as prelowered, there is a date when chrysler used lower springs in an attempt to lower the center of garvity. This came ata time when ford was having all their issues with the exploder and their roll-overs.

I think if your manufacture date is prior to april of 02 then it is a Pre-Lowered. Sticker on door or build list will confirm.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Wed Feb 13, 2008 11:18 am

Quote:

Will a 05 sub-frame be the exact same as our 02 sub frame?

Yes it will be,as will the LCA's.I have a '02 KJ and replaced my LCA's with one's from a '05 since they said they where updated and no longer made the ones for the '02.When I got them the new LCA's had the extact same part# casted on them as my old one's even though when I ordered them it was a different part#.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Wed Feb 13, 2008 2:27 pm

Youve got to realize that when you hit a curb like youve got 4,000lbs of Jeep to stop.

She was probably going faster than 5mph also.

The control arm and sub frame dont cost that much but the labor is pretty rough with that sub frame. Engine and tranny do not need to come out..

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Wed Feb 13, 2008 2:30 pm

The control arms are like $175 apiece and a new cradle is about $600-$800,used cradles can be found for $300-$400.

Kinda agree with jeepjeepster,I've hit curbs(sliding on ice) at 20-30mph and have never bent anything before.Though if she hit at the right angle things can bend but it's hard to believe at only 5mph.

RespectMyLibertay · **Posted:** Wed Feb 13, 2008 4:22 pm

I've hit a lot of things at 5 MPH and never had a problem

99xjclassic · **Joined:** Thu Aug 30, 2007 9:15 pm **Posts:** 43

She was honestly only going 5mph (thats what she told me). She hit right dead center on the cam adjusting bolt for the lower control arm. Yeah the control arms are more like $400 new. They wanted $175 for a used one.
Again:Thanks for the information everybody!

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Wed Feb 13, 2008 4:55 pm

Quote:

Yeah the control arms are more like $400 new

I got my brand new OEM LCA's from worldpartsexpress.com for $175 each.Getting those parts at a dealer is 100% markup from what they can be gotten for from OEM parts wholesalers on the web.Might want to check around for the parts to save some $$$.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Wed Feb 13, 2008 8:15 pm

99xjclassic wrote:

She was honestly only going 5mph (thats what she told me).

Theres your problem.

Posting this all over the place aren't you?

http://www.jeepsunlimited.com/forums/sh ... p?t=879104

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=519704

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Wed Feb 13, 2008 8:40 pm

I bent mine on my 02 (had just removed the front bash plate) going 2 mph and came down on a rock...bent the subframe. If you hit it just right...where it mounts...it will do that.

_UnLiMiTeD_ · **Posted:** Wed Feb 13, 2008 9:26 pm

i hit into a curb doing 10km sliding down an icey hill, didnt hurt a thing

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Thu Feb 14, 2008 12:25 am

IMO....5mph....I can walk that speed. A vehicle doing that is at a slow crawl.

I caught a fish this big once, but I threw it back. Sorry, no camera at the time.

While anything like that is possible, even on a tank, I find a whale of a tale with many people's story's of how something happened. I am sure the cops on here can vouch for that. Just like that story someone posted earlier about the KJ turning left at 5 mph and getting hit in the rear panel and rolling over due to oncoming driver didn't see and hitting it at 5-10 mph.

Not saying a lie is there, but something does smell fishy.

InCommando · **Posted:** Thu Feb 14, 2008 12:34 am

WoodysKJ wrote:

. First off do they mean the frame rail? never heard it called a sub frame. KJ's like many others and you XJ, are Unibody. They have frame rails but no real "Frame."

"Subframe" is a very common term when applied to unibody vehicles. Has been since Chrysler cars went all unibody in the late '50's.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Thu Feb 14, 2008 12:43 am

InCommando wrote:

WoodysKJ wrote:

. First off do they mean the frame rail? never heard it called a sub frame. KJ's like many others and you XJ, are Unibody. They have frame rails but no real "Frame."

"Subframe" is a very common term when applied to unibody vehicles. Has been since Chrysler cars went all unibody in the late '50's.

He is referring to the engine cradle,a metal cage that supports the engine and bolts to the unibody,the LCA's mount to the engine cradle.

BeepBeepJeepJeep · **Posted:** Thu Feb 14, 2008 1:22 am

Either the speedometer is way off, or your girlfriend is a liar

tommudd · **Posted:** Thu Feb 14, 2008 1:40 am

Back a few years ago I was hit by a lady who was driving an old police cruiser, I was in a Ford F150 4WD Pickup, she hit me spun me around in the road and continued on for another 145 feet. Told the police she had just taken off from a dead stop and was doing 5 MPH also, yeah right :wink:

Rush345 · **Posted:** Thu Feb 14, 2008 4:20 am

I would question the evidence myself :shock:

Last year and a half ago while driving my KJ, (When I shouldn't have after a spine injection) I drove into a curb trashing the front passenger wheel and tire. Then 9 months later replaced all 4 tires after my second LBJ recall repair. Then 6 months later in Mid December hit a patch of ice and slid into a curb drivers side front first sideway. Trashing that 6 spoke factory wheel and inturn getting the front tire replaced per road hazard protection and $80.00 FOR A NEW ALIGNMNET.
I still need a new drivers side rotor to replace the one warped by kissing the curb. But while I'm at it I might just as well replace the pads.
But thats another story I'll do it when I can.
L8R

Albert · **Posted:** Thu Feb 14, 2008 10:16 am

My GF had the same exact thing happen a couple of years ago in an ice storm with her other car. All she did was trash the rim and tire.

I am sorry, but I have a hard time believing all that major damage at 5mph.

Rush345 · **Posted:** Thu Feb 14, 2008 9:57 pm

Albert wrote:

My GF had the same exact thing happen a couple of years ago in an ice storm with her other car. All she did was trash the rim and tire.

I am sorry, but I have a hard time believing all that major damage at 5mph.

Well if the Jeep was only going 5 mph, the only reasonable conclussion is that the curb was doing 45 mph when it ran into the Jeep all on it's own :shock:

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Thu Feb 14, 2008 10:42 pm

http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?p=238770&highlight=#238770

Is it yours or hers?

A few ? Hit a curb at 5mph bent sub-Frame/control arm big $$

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