I was advised to consult someone with expertise in metalworking for their insights.
Here’s the context:
My car was towed twice recently for alternator replacement. After getting it back, I noticed a “clanking” sound from the rear end, along with problems with tracking, traction, and control. My father-in-law came by today to take a look.
We have no clue how this issue arose. I posted on a mechanics forum, and they’re as confused as I am. They suggested I consult someone knowledgeable in metalworking.
No, that’s definitely a break. You can see the internal grain structure of the steel, which shows it has snapped or sheared. If it had been cut with a grinder or hacksaw, the surface would be clean and flat, without any roughness.
This occurred while I was off-roading in my Jeep. I drove 50 miles home in the rain on the highway with three other women. My Jeep kept swerving into the other lane, and we narrowly avoided a collision with a semi-truck.
When I took it to the shop, covered in mud, they told us we were fortunate to be alive.
Another clue is the shape of the break, which suddenly angles off about two-thirds of the way through. If someone had cut it intentionally, the cut would likely be straight at that depth (unless they used a torch or plasma cutter, which would be noticeable and impractical for someone crawling under cars). While a chisel could theoretically create such a cut, it’s extremely unlikely anyone would have used one in this situation. If they had, it would have been very evident.
It seems to me that this issue is likely due to material failure. It looks like road debris might have struck it, causing a bend, chip, or dent that created a weak spot where a crack then developed. There are no tool marks visible—just an old, rusty crack that went unnoticed for some time.
Edit: In the third picture, it appears that something hit it quite hard, judging by the dent.
No, that’s definitely a natural break. It developed over time, as evidenced by the deformed profile and the paint peeling from the metal as the crack expanded. If someone had cut it, there wouldn’t have been enough time for corrosion to appear on the broken surface before you noticed it.
Edit: In picture 3, it looks like something hit it quite hard, given the dent.
Tow truck drivers use a large metal j-hook to hook onto the car’s frame or suspension and lift it onto the truck. I’m guessing they hooked onto this arm, bent it, and then it flexed back and forth several times before breaking from fatigue.
Getting that part from a local junkyard will probably be cheaper and of better quality compared to a typical auto parts store. You’ll need some tools, but you know what you’re after. The junkyard can even direct you to where your specific car model is located in their yard. While this information might not be crucial, it could be helpful. I personally enjoy finding a genuine Toyota part for my Camry at the junkyard for just 10% of the cost. It’s quite satisfying.
