A VERY lucky escape!!!

[rabenson]

Backed off my drive this morning and when I started to move forward there was a horrible grating sound. Got out to see if anything had dropped off the underside and was catching but couldn't see anything. Gently pulled in to the side of the road. By this time I was convinced that either the offside front wheel bearing had disintegrated or its drive shaft had committed suicide. I really couldn't believe what I saw when I went to investigate.

The offside front strut spring had failed and dug into the front tyre!!!

I've not heard of this happening before and if it had happened last night as I was driving home at speed in traffic I really wouldn't have rated my chances....

If you look at the first photo:

Pic of the spring

You can see that it has failed just at the point where the lower cup drops down.

In the 10 yards or so that I slowly drove it, here is what it did to my lovely new Toyo Proxes T1-R....

Pic of the tyre

I really feel quite lucky to be alive....

Has anyone heard of this happening before??

Ron