FRONT SHOCK ABSORBER / LOWER CONTROL ARM

[TOM250SL]

Had some bad luck today in an encounter with a pothole.  I seemed to have sheared/broke one of the mounting plate/brackets where the the front passenger shock absorber bottom attaches to the lower control arm (see pics).  Not sure if the underside bolt came loose first and then it just stressed over time and broke, or if it simply sheared off all of the sudden. Anyone ever encounter this and is it terribly serious/challenging to fix?

[kampala]

If your control arm is not bent ( I do not know how to check) , you can easily replace the shocks as the broken bracket and bolt are part of the Shock assembly.   See the photo.   

Also, original shocks are date-coded and your photo seems to show a date of "66" - if your car is an early 250, these might be original shocks?   Mine were original to the car and when I changed them (all 4) the driving was vastly improved.

[Cees Klumper]

If you are bent (pun intended) on originality you should be able to have the bracket welded. But I would follow Oz' advice and get new shocks if these are that old!

[TOM250SL]

Wow I didn't even see the stamped "66" on them.  I had the rear shocks replaced recently and definitely agree if these are original it's time to replace them.  Also didn't realize the attachment bracket was part of the shock - that's good news to me.  And no, I don't believe the control arm is bent, so perhaps this will be a fairly simple repair.  Thanks  for your input kampala and cees!