My passengers side lower control arm bracket got bent towards the drivers side. it didnt crack off, just literally i guess stretched the metal about a good inch towards the drivers side. the actual control arm didnt bend at all...which is sweet i guess, but do you guys think its a good idea to just hammer the bracket back straight, and maybe do a bit of weld reinforcement or is it possible to get another bracket for it. any one every replace the bracket? do you have to just weld that SOB on there? I usually use rockauto.com but they didnt have the brackets...can you buy them? thanks guys.

ps ill snap some pictures tomorrow...its night time...and blizzarding.

 

i forget which company makes them but someone makes heavy duty control arm brackets that you weld on. if you do harmer it back into shape definatley weld some heavy stuff to it

 

It sounds like the welds are still in good shape,if so I would try to strighten it,make sure the welds are not cracked. As long as the control arm is straight,meaning in line then I think your ok,my only concern would be the welds.

 

rusty's makes em. i found them on quadratec. convienently located down the road from me. thanks for the help, ill try bending first, and probably just replace in the spring...there is a foot and a half of snow on the ground so....no repairs for sure.

 

once it's bent, it won't be long before it snaps off.
been there, ratchet straps to get me off the trail and 300kms home.

yes, you can either beef up what is left of it, but i'd just cut and grind, then replace with aftermarket bracket.
rusty's as well as rugged ridge (omix), etc sells them. pretty cheap too.

 

if its bent really bad and is going to break dont bother with trying to straighten it out. just get some heavy duty aftermarket arms and weld those on.

 

thanks guys, you all always have teh answers. just one more question then. If I buy them, which I will, how much, in your opinions do you think it would cost to get someone to weld it on. I can't weld/dont own a welder. Im a poor college student, but this jeep is my passion, so i need to get it fixed. And i agree, i need to get it done right, and that means ordering the new brackets. how much stuff do you have to take off? is it dooable to jack it up pull the arm off and grind away? or would the whole assembly have to come off?