busted front strut - ok to still drive with for a couple of weeks?

[CV6Z]

hi all copped a busted front strut last week and cant afford a new set till i get paid...is it ok to drive with or should i not be driving it?? ive been driving it to and from work this week because i have no other transport and i can hear a rattle noise commin from it - im assuming its because theres no oil in the strut? the oil pissed out everywhere under the right gaurd...

thoughts?

[graham7773]

Weelll, it will affect your steering, your braking, especially under heavy braking and if you are involved in an accident, you bear the whole responsibility for said accident and will, quite probably cop a few nasty charges from the men in blue eg drive unroadworthy vehicle, negligent driving, possibly drive in a manner dangerous to the public. You see where I'm going with this? And how would you feel if you killed someone because of driving that car?

[Clint_G]

Weelll, it will affect your steering, your braking, especially under heavy braking and if you are involved in an accident, you bear the whole responsibility for said accident and will, quite probably cop a few nasty charges from the men in blue eg drive unroqdworthy vehicle, negligent driving, possibly drive in a manner dangerous to the public. You see where I'm going with this? And how would you feel if you killed someone because of driving that car?

i agree. its not worth the risk to you or other people.

[MikeCuzzy]

Yeah I'll 3rd that, would you run around with a broken ankle?

[soop]

Holy crap there's some panzies on here.

The strut will be fine. It'll just make a clunking noise. You won't even notices any changes to the braking steering. Unless something is flapping around broken don't stress.

[Kieran263]

I totally agree with soop, its safer than the hundreds of people driving around on chopped springs.

[anarklov3r]

Just drive on it and fix asap. But in regards to what graham said... if you get in an accident, and if anybody asks, your strut was fine BEFORE the accident. Unless you get rear ended, then your screwed.

[soop]

LOL, they wont even car that the strut is a bit dodgy, they wont even check it. Unless someone is killed that is, even then you would argue it wasn't like that at the time of the accident.

[CV6Z]

yeah i see what you's mean, cheers. i really have no other option but to drive to and from work..getn new struts this week so i think i'll be ok..

[bazza13]

Dont ask if you wont listen to advice!

[soop]

What, because someone isn't scared by the mechanics trying to make a dollar or ACA my advice is invalid?

[bazza13]

lol nappy changing time!

[graham7773]

soop, my grandson was killed in a smash a few weeks ago and the offending 4x4 had sus brakes. Are you really saying that it is OK to drive a vehicle with crappy suspension on public roads? And that anybody who wants other people to drive safe vehicles are pansies? My thinking is that it is people with attitudes like yours are responsible for a lot of misery. By the way there were 423 people at the service. I am sure they would like to hear your thoughts on the subject

[TI3VOM]

How about you catch the bus and don't drive the F'ing car it's not hard, or get a lift with someone else.

Borrow some money from a family member, I mean how hard is it to borrow enough money to buy some replacement shocks, even if they are second hand.

soop this is the best advice you could have given the O/P but you went for the most stupid answer, don't try to say your right this time as you are not.

[azkwazere]

Ehhh what a drainer of he thread.

Moral Victories vs. Real Life Reality

No ones gonna win this one.

aZk.

[graham7773]

aZk, I do not know what you are getting at but I do not think I am looking for a win. Losing a 10 year old grandson to some wanker who can't afford to maintain their car but wants to drive it anyway is not my idea of a win!

[feg]

I say change it now or sooner. If you are going to do the wrong thing and drive it, sit back give yourself heaps of room and don't go flat out. But I am not trying to validate driving an vehicle on the roads that you know is not up to the job.

to those who do say drive it anyway, whilst I do understand there are realities to deal with, what if the OP has an accident that is not even his fault. If they find the strut, it's game over as far as insurance paying out, and the OP could be off to the bighouse for neg driving or killing someone. Once you know something like this has happened, get it fixed don't mess around putting it off. You just don't know when your next emergency brake may be.

Also I think it is a little different driving around in the country vs some narrow city streets.

[ssv 08 ute]

I can see your on a tight budget...and see both sides of the argument.
ASK YOURSELF THIS QUESTION..
Sure ..if you drive it you probably will be ok
however
If the worst happens and you damage property or even worse people
What would be the cost ???

Basically...spin the wheel of fortune and prey your number dont come up.

[soop]

ehhhhhhhh.....
The wonky strut isn't going to shear off and make him plow into some unsuspecting pregnant woman. It'll be fine to potter around to get to work. Just replace it ASAP.

Fuggin scare mongerers.

[bazza13]

soop you have obviously got the brain of a chocolate fish, nah thats being mean to the fish, for god sake boy GROW UP! and listen to all these guys that know more than you, my god your'e annoying!

[Jesterarts]

It's illegal to drive an un-roadworthy vehicle, if you feel that due to this defect in the strut the vehicle is un-roadworthy, don't drive it.

It will probably be fine to drive and you probably won't notice a different so long as you don't pretend to be doing a top 10 shootout lap at Bathurst.

Personally, I wouldn't drive it not because it's technically unroadworthy, but because the consequences IF something does fit the fan are not something I would be comfortable to face.

On an unrelated note, pretty sure there is no need for calling members panzies or chocolate fish.

[bogan_vk]

personally id fix it before id drive it but im a real fussy bastard when it comes to safety items on my car ..

[Reaper]

When you say "busted front strut" what exactly do you mean???

Reaper

[CV6Z]

ive been readnig all the opinions and have taken in the advice - when i say it busted i went to holden at rockhampton to get them to diagnose the oil leak which they confirmed was the front right strut. they said it would be fine to drive (i was on my way home from townsville to bundy then out to biggenden west of bundy) so long as i took it easy as in keepin to the speed limit and not over-taking trucks ect..

all it is, is the rubber seal has shit itself and the oil inside the strut has leaked out thus the strut beng worn out. i havnt noticed any changes to steering, braking ect and ive got to drive 40km in a 100kpn zone to work. its been ok driving it BUT WILL BE REPLACING BOTH STRUTS THIS WEEKEND...

i understand people sayin not to drive n fix it asap but the reality is that i cant and do need to go to work i havnt been driving like a hero i dont anyway....its an oil leak from the strut..

[Jesterarts]

If it's just leaking oil then you should be fine for a while.

Form your descriptions it sounded like "busted" meant the thing was collapsed and knocking about in the cartridge.