1995 Chevrolet Astro

WAS BACKING OUT OF GARAGE WHEN I HEARD A LOUD SNAPPING NOISE AND THE DRIVER SIDE OF VAN WENT DOWN LIKE A TIRE HAD BLOWN. GOT OUT AND DISCOVERED THAT TIRES WERE OK, BUT FRONT END WAS SAGGING DOWN WITH HARDLY ANY ROOM IN WHEEL WELLS FOR TIRES TO TURN. CALLED TOW TRUCK AND HAD THEM TOW TO DEALERSHIP FOR INVESTIGATION OF PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME THAT BOTH TORSION BARS HAD BROKEN AND THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF ~$700. I CONSIDER MYSELF REAL LUCKY BECAUSE I HAD JUST RETURNED FROM A TRIP OF OVER 900 MILES, PULLING A BOAT. IF THE BARS WOULD HAVE BROKEN WHILE TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE AT 65 - 70 MPH THERE IS NO TELLING WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED AS FAR AS A ACCIDENT IS CONCERNED. I BELIEVE THAT THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY HAZARD AND THE COST SHOULD BE PAID BY THE MANUFACTURE. THANKS. *NLM

FRONT LEFT SIDE TORSION BAR BROKE WHILE SITTING IN THE GARAGE. DROVE THE VEHICLE THE DAY BEFORE. WIFE GOT INTO VEHICLE ON 6-2-03 AND FRONT END HAD SAGGED ON THE LEFT SIDE. VEHICLE TAKEN TO REPAIR FACILITY AND REPORTED THAT TORSION BAR HAD BROKEN. WHEN A GM DEALER WAS CONTACTED FOR PARTS, IT WAS STRESSED THAT BOTH SIDES BE REPAIRED DUE TO HISTORY OF THIS ISSUE. *NLM

MY FAMILY AND I HAD JUST DRIVEN ABOUT 50 MILES AND WERE GOING TO EAT DINNER, WHILE TURNING RIGHT OFF A STREET WE HEARD A LOUD POP AND THE LEFT FRONT CORNER OF THE VAN FELL. I ASSUMED WE HAD BLOWN A TIRE, BUT WHEN I GOT OUT TO LOOK, THE TIRE WAS STILL UP. AFTER JACKING UP THE VAN AND LOOKING AT THE BALL JOINTS, TIE RODS, ETC., I REALIZED THAT TORSION BAR HAD SNAPPED. FORTUNATELY THIS OCCURRED AT A LOW SPEED AND DID NOT CAUSE ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VAN - 2 MINUTES EARLIER AND IT WOULD PROBABLY BE A DIFFERENT STORY. THE FIRST DEALER I CONTACTED TOLD ME THE PART WAS DISCONTINUED AND I SHOULD TRY A JUNKYARD TO GET THE PART I NEEDED. THE SECOND DEALER I CONTACTED TOLD ME THERE WAS A CONVERSION KIT I COULD BUY, BUT I HAD TO CONVERT BOTH SIDES, AND THE COST WAS "AT LEAST" $500. IF I HAD KNOWN I NEEDED ANOTHER $500 AND WAS RISKING THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY, I WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE. HOW ABOUT SOME HELP GM?*AK

I HAVE A 1995 CHEVROLET ASTRO VAN. ON THE WAY HOME, I HEARD A LOUD BANG, LIKE A TIRE HAD BLOWN. WHEN I PARKED THE CAR AT HOME, I NOTICED THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WAS VISIBLY SAGGING. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE SAID THE TORSION BAR HAD BROKE. HE ALSO SAID THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THIS YEAR OF VEHICLE. I CALLED GENERAL MOTORS TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL CAMPAIGN AND THERE IS NOT. I HAVE TO BUY TWO NEW TORSION BARS BECAUSE THERE IS AN UPDATE TO THE VERSION. THE REPAIRS ARE $700.00. *NLM

VAN WAS SITTING ON DRIVEWAY WE HEARD A POP AND FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DROPPED ONTO THE TIRE. HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER, DRIVER SAID THIS WAS THE 2ND ONE THAT WEEK. DEALER SAID IT WAS THE TORSION BAR AND THEY NEEDED TO CHANGE BOTH. ADAPTERS WERE ON 1 WEEK BACK ORDER. WAS TOLD THAT THE DESIGN HAD CHANGED. TALKED TO SEVERAL OTHER ASTRO OWNERS - THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM.*AK