salad

Interesting mess. Would not trust it. That needs to be proplerly examined by someone with a clue.

I'm intruiged by this other plate you speak of. Chance you could post a pic?

Firestorm500

Sell Jeep quickly.

awork

Salad: I can take a picture of it tomorrow. It runs from the very front of the frame all the way to where it is welded. In the second picture you can see the end of it in the left of the picture. It is bolted to the frame at the front but welded at the back. The other side doesn't have one like that. Some of the welds look good but some spots look terrible. Not sure if it was someones way to reinforce the original fix or what. I am thinking about having a guy i know with a welding shop check it out but that could be a few weeks or more.
I have done a lot of research on frame cracks and if fixed right they can still be almost as good as before so hoping i am able to fix it.

Firestorm500

"I have done a lot of research on frame cracks and if fixed right they can still be almost as good as before..."

That's a pretty scary qualifier, especially on a unibody vehicle.

awork

Some things i have found say that its a somewhat common issue for the frame to crack near the steering box. Could that be what this was? I am not sure exactly where the steering box is located but from what i have saw in pictures it looks like it could be near there.

caged

yes, common issue of frame cracking around the steering box. it's not from jumping or misuse, it's from larger tires pulling the steering box from larger tires while off roading. mine did the same and i had it plated up and sleeved at staangs fab.

it looks ugly but should be just fine. just jeep an eye on it if the jeep starts to wonder while driving on the road.

you could take it to a good fab shop that is familiar with this issue on cherokee's as a wrangler guy won't know chit about it. otherwise, leave it and enjoy the rest of the vehicle. i doubt you will have an issue with it.

awork

Thanks for the reply Caged, I have been keeping an eye on it just since the weld doesn't look the greatest. I went out the other day and drove a little off road and did a little flexing to just to test it out and its holding up fine so far. I drove it over 200 miles home when i bought it and have drove another 100 or more since being home with it. Just thinking i may do like you recommended and keep an eye on it for now but if i get a chance i may have a guy i know who has a fabrication shop check it out and do some fixing.

salad

Steering box crack is a good point.

I'm actually jealous of you. Looks easier to repair than this:

awork

Here is a picture of the plate that runs from the front of the frame back to where it is welded. It is bolted in on the front then the back is welded.



This is a plate welded on the inside of the frame by the steering box

SeriousOffroad

That's a JKS reinforcement panel.

awork

Ok thanks! That is good news from what I was thinking! After looking at that plate more it looked like something that was made to go there so I was hoping for that. I am just going to keep an eye on it and may have a guy I know do a little fixing on the welds eventually just to ensure it holds up.

southsidecatac

Good thing you didn't take the early advice to sell your rig without a more thorough investigation. Sometimes it pays to wait for an informed poster to offer advice.

Firestorm500

On the other hand, patches and welds are still not as strong as the factory original configuration was.

I would be afraid to put my family in it. I would be afraid for other people's families that are going to be in the other vehicles on the road with me.

No old Jeep is worth possible personal injury and liability issues should something happen.

Kalali

You might be right but this is no more dangerous that some jacked up XJs with oversized tires and under engineered suspension components and the knuckleheads doing 80 mph next to you on the freeway....

Firestorm500

True. I have a used tire store. I see stuff drive in here every day that would make your hair stand on end.

And THEY are out there with US.