What causes A-Pillar Cracks?...picture

5.0 Nostalgia

10 Year Member

Feb 28, 2003

904

5

39

CT

Aug 13, 2004

#1

• Aug 13, 2004

• #1

I have noticed that there are two cracks on the passenger side A-Pillar of my car. They have been there since I bought the car two years ago. Just wondering what they could be caused by. I have heard that abuse can cause this. There are some waves in the rear quarter on that side as well. Not too bad, they are actually only noticable being that the car is black and everything can be seen. The torque boxes are in decent condition. The one on the passenger side is actually in better shape than the driver's side (small crack due to a previous owner trying to jack the car up on it). The car was never in an accident so it cannot be from that.

Anyway here is a picture of what I am talking about.

 

FrdMustangCpe

New Member

May 27, 2004

493

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0

Sin City, NV

Aug 13, 2004

#2

• Aug 13, 2004

• #2

probably some sort of stress crack, does the car have subframe connectors? some hard cornering maybe fat guy sat on the roof

 

cjman15

Banned

Apr 15, 2004

1,009

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Fairfield, PA

Aug 13, 2004

#3

• Aug 13, 2004

• #3

Subframes would help stiffen it up a good bit. I need a set for my car.

 

Mavrick

Founding Member

Aug 29, 2002

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Collingwood, ON

Aug 13, 2004

#4

• Aug 13, 2004

• #4

That is from the car twisting, a result of power/torque. When you launch the car, it will torque one way more than the other, and this causes cracks in such places as the A pillar's, they are the weakest point.

Sub frames would help a great deal.

 

JETHRO

Founding Member

Jul 27, 2002

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ALTOONA PA

Aug 13, 2004

#5

• Aug 13, 2004

• #5

the factory lead is in that spot to. thats where they put the roof together. look at other cars with more power and no subframes.

 

Stang951

Founding Member

Jun 12, 2000

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New Orleans

Aug 14, 2004

#6

• Aug 14, 2004

• #6

I saw a 4 banger that happened too also. Eventually it cracked the roof as well. Better stiffen that thing up fast.

 

88stangmangt

Active Member

Nov 25, 2003

2,332

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Stafford,VA

Aug 14, 2004

#7

• Aug 14, 2004

• #7

yup it is from all those times you mashed the throttle to the ground at the stop light.

 

0

00 Red SS

New Member

Jan 22, 2003

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Grain Valley, MO

Aug 14, 2004

#8

• Aug 14, 2004

• #8

guess i can expect that to happen too, when i launch my left tire is about 18"s off the ground and my right will barely crack off the ground it is pretty viscous.

 

88stangmangt

Active Member

Nov 25, 2003

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Stafford,VA

Aug 14, 2004

#9

• Aug 14, 2004

• #9

00 Red SS said:

guess i can expect that to happen too, when i launch my left tire is about 18"s off the ground and my right will barely crack off the ground it is pretty viscous.

Click to expand...

if that is true the paint chiping would be the least of my worrys.

 

DirtyD916

Active Member

May 25, 2003

804

1

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Norcal 916

Aug 14, 2004

#10

• Aug 14, 2004

• #10

get teh subframes, they rock.

 

H

HighMileage

New Member

Aug 7, 2004

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Aug 14, 2004

#11

• Aug 14, 2004

• #11

88stangmangt said:

yup it is from all those times you mashed the throttle to the ground at the stop light.

Click to expand...

Yup.

Also, not to forget good tires. Without a good set, torque alone shouldn't damage the car.

 

5.0 Nostalgia

10 Year Member

Feb 28, 2003

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CT

Aug 14, 2004

#12

• Aug 14, 2004

• #12

I thought that it was caused by abuse. Unfortunately, the cracks were there when I bought the car so I didn't get to have the fun. How big of a deal is this? Does this mean that the body of the car is twisted? As I said earlier, the torque boxes on the car are fine and the floor pans are perfect.

Here is the driver's side torque box of my car. As you can see, there is some minor damage to the outside of it (left side). From the looks of it, this was caused by someone using it as a jacking point. I already have subframe connectors, but I don't like them and will be replacing them with some Global West subframes and Wild Rides torque box reinforcements. I have all the parts in stock, just waiting to get them on.

 

PNY PWR

New Member

Jul 23, 2004

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Wichita, KS

Aug 15, 2004

#13

• Aug 15, 2004

• #13

the factory lead is in that spot to

Click to expand...

Yep

The waves on the rear quarter right behind the 1/4 window are very common. I had them till the new paint job. My torque boxes are a little mangles too from jacking, no biggie.

 

bmo37

Founding Member

Jun 27, 2001

2,368

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46

New Jersey

Aug 15, 2004

#14

• Aug 15, 2004

• #14

how about the engine chassis brace that connects the 2 strut towers

 

PNY PWR

New Member

Jul 23, 2004

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Wichita, KS

Aug 15, 2004

#15

• Aug 15, 2004

• #15

I plan on getting a strut tower brace in the near future. Anything to stiffen up the car is good. Won't really stiffen the chassis like sfc's, but will kepp the strut towers squared up.

 

B

Bigstang1

Founding Member

Aug 28, 2002

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Massachusettes

Aug 15, 2004

#16

• Aug 15, 2004

• #16

I just ordered some subframe connectors and i am thinking about the torque box reinforcments too. Should i get them? My car is mostly stock and it has bever had slicks on it ever. I am in the process of swapping to a 5speed now which i assume will put more stress on everything. Has anyone installed these box reinforcments? Ive heard welding them in is much better than bolting . is this true? My buddy is welding in the subframes for me when i get them so i should probly just have him do those too. What u guys think? sorry didnt mean to steal the post.

 

fredfifty

5 Year Member

Nov 23, 2011

318

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59

SF Bay Area

Apr 21, 2017

#17

• Apr 21, 2017

• #17

13 years later....hey so i wanted to see if my buddy had damaged a pillars from abuse of the gas pedal, so i applied a magnet to the section of the a pillar where it meets the roof, and the magnetivity is weak at that point only. im gathering the damage was done and fixed..possibly with bondo? hope not, but is that a normal/decent repair/fix?

 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

Mod Dude

Feb 18, 2001

43,249

17,932

224

Massachusetts

Apr 21, 2017

#18

• Apr 21, 2017

• #18

Factory usually filled these areas with lead, which is not magnetic

 

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