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Lower Control Arms; Integrity safety stability
Topic Started: Feb 22 2016, 08:14 PM (1,942 Views)
mt999999
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Self-Declared "Genious"

jbridgway
Feb 22 2016, 08:14 PM
I checked all over the internet fount nothing showing exactly what was done to my car. The mechanic said that while removing the old lower control arms that he broke off a bolt on each side inside the frame. His solution was to spot weld the lower control arm where the bolt was broken to the frame. The good news is that the car was pretty much repaired correctly and rust free on the frame where the control arm connects. This sound normal to you? Is it safe?

Learned a valuable lesson today and an expensive one. Hire the right people for repairs. I gave a mechanic all the handle and outside lock assemblies and was returned a vehicle with the new parts in some cases broken or doors opening no different then before. Very frustrating.
Can you get us some pictures of the weld?
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frostbyte
Fresh Fish
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The one that screwed me, was me. I could not get the control arm off. I said mah...2 bolts just take it off.
Kinda glad I did!!! That could have really become a safety issue and never known it. Cause it was bad.
I just need to Fix it.
So you think Welding it on is OK???
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1DCGUY
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Don't be a "Richard"

frostbyte
Feb 23 2016, 09:46 PM
The one that screwed me, was me. I could not get the control arm off. I said mah...2 bolts just take it off.
Kinda glad I did!!! That could have really become a safety issue and never known it. Cause it was bad.
I just need to Fix it.
So you think Welding it on is OK???
To be honest, I have no idea if it's safe or not, but it might be your only option.
Opening up the frame horn itself really isn't an option, so you may just need to give it a try.
If you are not a welder, I would highly suggest you find someone that knows how to weld very well, as your life may very well depend on it.
When you took those bolts out, did they snap off when you were loosening them, or were they already loose??
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sphenicie


@ jbridgway, if it was welded properly it is not only safe, but is stronger than the bolts. it will be a bitch to swap out the control arm next time.

I do not think that the average "mechanic" is a good enough welder.

if you can post a pic or two of the weld job, I will tell you how good of a job he did.
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solerpower
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The likely hood that the weld job is as good as the bolt is extremely small. The likely hood that the weld job is better than the bolt is plain ridiculous yet still possible. I would have faith that I will win the lottery without buying a ticket first.

If the nut is broken off on the inside your going from the physic of a compression force where the thin plate metal has to bend, fracture and then tear off to release the control arm to the physics of a single small point is attached to thin plate metal where a single breaking point will occur where the strength is not spread out over a much larger area.
Edited by solerpower, Feb 25 2016, 09:04 PM.
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evmetro


solerpower
Feb 25 2016, 08:55 PM
The likely hood that the weld job is as good as the bolt is extremely small. The likely hood that the weld job is better than the bolt is plain ridiculous yet still possible. I would have faith that I will win the lottery without buying a ticket first.

If the nut is broken off on the inside your going from the physic of a compression force where the thin plate metal has to bend, fracture and then tear off to release the control arm to the physics of a single small point is attached to thin plate metal where a single breaking point will occur where the strength is not spread out over a much larger area.
Lol,+1. Just knowing that the welder was utilized sounds like trouble. A skilled welder could potentially buy some time, but I don't like it. If I have to get the welder fired up to get a control arm mounted, it is to weld on a good rust free frame horn. Other than properly welding on a nice rust frame free horn to ICAR standards, the welder ain't happening. I would pay somebody a few bucks to hack the install with a welder if I had to get by for awhile, but I would start shopping for a new chassis.
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Murf 59
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That is a rubber mount right next to where it was welded. I have a hard time believing the rubber was not damaged.
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brsja
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Need some pics here...
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