I guess they built and sold millions of cars that way because the fasteners were sufficient to do the job.  I have not been around nor have I experienced a failure of any sort of the lower arm pivot pin. That is a new one.

I would have thought that you may of heard some strange noises before it came completely out.

i think using a castle nut and pin on both ends of the bar will put everything in place and yah know ,peace of mind. i wonder why it wasn't designed that way??

Two thumbs up!!!

 It's the gold shaft (not goldmember from austin powers) with the curve that holds the lower control arm to the subframe. Part #21A1889, the nut fell off that shaft (not trying to be dirty here)....

Was your issue was with the front of the tie rod coming away from the subframe??  If so, then, yes this not that uncommon and yes, its very scary ........ BTDT.  My tie rod actualy snapped due to incorrect use of nylon bushes vice the standard rubber type....

Originally, the nut was castellated and the tie rod was drilled for a split pin.  

I don't think I'd use loctite AND a nyloc (I'd be concerned about the compatibilty of the materials) but a good quality (single use) nyloc is pretty much mandatory in this situation...

While you're there,  check that to bolt that connects the back end of the tie rod to the lower arm is inserted downwards (and has a lock nut).  At least then, if the nut comes off, the suspension will probably stay in one piece.  Its much easier (and therefor tempting) for a PO to inseert the bolt upwards if it has been removed for some reason.

Yes. The nut that holds the arm that the lower control arm pivots on fell off. Minimania calls it: pivot pin lower arm support shaft.

omg, everytime i speed up i always think and worried about that support bar nut loosing or the weld come off, thanks for sharing i will crawl underneath my car now and make sure those nuts and bolts are tight., i may need to check the integrity of the weld as well, its a 37 yo car... thanks for the heads up

Do you mean the pin that the lower arm pivots on? Do you mean the larger nut on the front of the tie rod, or do you mean the bolt that holds the tie rod to the lower arm?

To clarify: the lower arm that goes through the subframe and supports the control arm let loose so the lower control arm was hanging there.

Slamming is not really a good time. I Have a friend who rolled a pretty sweet MK II into a ball when the front suspension came apart on the rolling hills east of Sacramento. Now, I must admit I do not understand your description: if the tie rod came loose at the front of the tie bar, well that is either a nylok nut or a castellated nut with a pin. If it is the nut and bolt that holds the tie bar to the lower arm, that is a bolt with a sufficient shank, with a spring washer and nut.

I am glad you are not hurt. Perhaps this is the time to look aver every aspect of the car to see if there are not other items that could let go.

I wanted to share a bad experience I had to maybe help others. Maybe my fault, maybe what came with parts I bought but.... the lower front support shaft that holds the lower control arm, the nut came off my mini and caused me to lose control and cross the other lane of traffic (luckily no one was coming) and almost slammed into the curb. It turns out that the problem was the lock washer didn't keep the nut on and the nut fell off, letting the support shaft fall down. Total loss of control and only damage was the tire ruining the wheel arch. Very scary!!!!

So, I when I put it back together, I used red loc-tite and a nylon lock nut. Hopefully that won't happen again. If it was my fault during assembly, I take full responibility, and everyone on here came slam me for that, but I wanted to share if this was a possible issue to save anyone else that may experience this problem.

Hope this helps....