Advice on pulling a bent/damaged frame gusset (sheet metal)

More of an art than a science - discuss metalworking and welding here.



Non-Lurker
Posts: 4
Joined: Sun Jan 29, 2017 2:18 pm

Country:
USA
PostPosted: Sun Jan 29, 2017 2:41 pm
Good 'ole Copart ... of the projects I get, it seems the fork trucks do equal damage as whatever caused the vehicle to get there in the first place.

I was torn between posting this question here, or in the welding section - kind'a applies to both.

Here goes - '04 Jeep Liberty, Copart fork truck got into the right rear frame gusset just beside the rear control arm mount (got into the control arm mount too). Damage is pictured. Don't really want to drill out the spots; was thinking of maybe a stud welder & pulling the metal back out and back together enough to seam weld it. As for the control arm ear, was thinking of simply banging that back out. Advice; other ideas?

Image


Image


Image


Image

User avatar

Board Moderator
Posts: 9878
Joined: Fri Oct 20, 2006 12:40 pm
Location: ARIZONA
PostPosted: Tue Jan 31, 2017 1:01 am
Best bet is to drill out the spot welds and replace that piece.
You will need to do some serious measuring to make sure your frame rail is in its proper place before fitting and welding in the new piece.
1968 Coronet R/T


ACTS 16:31



Settled In
Posts: 70
Joined: Fri Feb 05, 2016 7:09 am

Country:
USA
PostPosted: Tue Jan 31, 2017 6:38 am
For some reason your pics are not loading ?



No Turning Back
Posts: 977
Joined: Mon Jun 20, 2011 3:58 pm
PostPosted: Tue Jan 31, 2017 6:53 am
Replacement as Coronet says is the only way to get that opening right for proper operation.
It needs to be wide enough for bushing replacement, but close enough for bushing squeeze, while being in near perfect alignment.



Non-Lurker
Posts: 4
Joined: Sun Jan 29, 2017 2:18 pm

Country:
USA
PostPosted: Tue Jan 31, 2017 8:08 pm
tommie b wrote:For some reason your pics are not loading ?


Not sure why ... try again?



Non-Lurker
Posts: 4
Joined: Sun Jan 29, 2017 2:18 pm

Country:
USA
PostPosted: Tue Jan 31, 2017 8:11 pm
'68 Coronet R/T wrote:Best bet is to drill out the spot welds and replace that piece.
You will need to do some serious measuring to make sure your frame rail is in its proper place before fitting and welding in the new piece.


For the control arm mount? Hmm ... it really didn't look that bad; mostly just bent in the ear a bit. I was mostly concerned with the punctured gusset. I appreciate the advice though ... I'll take another look.

User avatar

Board Moderator
Posts: 9878
Joined: Fri Oct 20, 2006 12:40 pm
Location: ARIZONA
PostPosted: Thu Feb 02, 2017 1:17 am
No, the torque box (gusset).
You should be able to straighten the frame rail mount but make sure you get it right and the new box fits properly against the floor and side of mount before welding.
1968 Coronet R/T


ACTS 16:31



Top Contributor
Posts: 6216
Joined: Tue Sep 16, 2008 1:17 pm
Location: Pahrump NV.
Country:
USA
PostPosted: Sat Feb 04, 2017 11:18 am
You could beat it half strait and Put some patches on it BUT I wouldn't !!

If it were one Of My Trucks They see Mud Snow Ice 4x4ing getting stuck regularly and getting yanked out and generally just punished because of which I would Weld in a New Piece.

Thats a One wheel drive rear axle most all the Power is being applied to the ground by that Right Rear tire working the suspension on that side more than the other relying on that Trailing arm more than the other side do what you want but It needs to be repaired right. reselling the Truck could be hard when its inspected, doubly so if a repair is of questionable strength is performed.

I recently had to rebuild and reinstall all the Four link mounts on My son's Fox Body. He had ripped apart every spot weld on the Body side on all four of the Four link trailing arm mounts on the right side and half of the welds on the left side of the car Drag racing.
Very similar to what your looking at.

On the right side he had torn the metal on the Top trailing arm mount, After I got it all drilled apart I was able to straiten the mount out and weld it up and reinstall all of it. looks harder than it is. he was just running a little 302 then Now hes building a 408 out of a 351 for it We are planning on Cutting it all out now to make it a Big tire car with a nice Drag racing Four link with Coil overs.
Dennis B.
A&P Mechanic, FCC General radio Telephone Operator
Line Maintenance A&P Mechanic and MOC Tech specialist.

Return to Welding & Metal Fab

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 42 guests