As the title says, I slid in heavy rain, and hit the curb super hard

I was lucky it wasnt worse, thought I had got off ok, as it drives fine, but upon inspection, the LH Lower control arm mount (on the axle tube), is very distorted, and the LH front wheel is pushed back a couple of inches within the weel arch as a result


I can see no way out of this other than to remove the mount by carefully grinding it free from the tube, bend it back to shape in my vice, and using hammers, then mig weld it back into place

As I am in Australia, I dont really want to wait for a new bracket to be sent from USA (but wait, are they available?, maybe I can?)

At any rate, I will still have to get the old mount off, and this does not appear easy, as a grinder and hackzall probably cant reach all the welds.

I also have carbide grinders for electric drill

any other tips for removing the LCA mount from the axle tube? (or comments on the job in general)

 

IMO the stock bracket is so thin, any attempt to get it off will weaken it even more. You might recall I used Barnes products when I redid my front axle (ironically, everything except LCA brackets) but the aftermarket products are either stronger or much stronger. If you're not saving the old brackets the job should go quickly. Consider even just popping the axle off to work on it.

 

Front Axle Housing Repair/Replace - Jeep Cherokee Forum

2000 XJ Classic Lower Control Arm Bracket replacement, looking for a welding shop - Jeep Cherokee Forum

 

Thx Gents..I meant to add this

I mean to say...**** ! I just got done rebuilding the front end.

As I mentioned, I am in Oz, so it may take too long to get an aftermarket replacement here soon enough

Please link me some sources !

The thing is it drives pretty good, but I dont really want to leave it like it is for any longer than needed.

I may hitch up a chain to a big tree near the LCA mount and see if I can stretch it a little bit straighter

I dont have Oxy or plasma cutting gear, and I have not fully inspected, thats next, but cutting the welds will be the most time consuming part I suspect. I will end up having to drill some`

I will be hating on repairing it and putting it back, maybe with some reinforcement, but I may have to, at least till a replacement HD part arrives

Its my DD, and I am in demand atm, so its got to be a quick repair, my fear is when I get under, some other things might be bent

It was a mighty hit, would have torn the front suspension clean out of some rubber mounted jobby, at least I could drive home

 

I have done a further inspection, and that mount is trashed, as it is bent 45 degrees inward, to the extent it will be a pita the get the inner side weld cut, as it is jammed up by the pumpkin

however, I have come up with a good solution hopefully;

*Remove the damaged item

* remove a perfectly intact item from the totally bare D30 housing I had forgotten about

* weld that back into place

Job done in less than one day

If anyone has a links to heavier duty mounts, I will still consider them

I had considered bracing the originals as I always thought they looked skinny.

I will study the situation while I am in there, and also fully read the link a previous poster kindly linked

Like I said, a lesser sturdy vehicle would be half trashed

I do really ****ing want to do my D44/disc brake upgrade

 

Confirm fitment esp. if you have/plan to go with adjustable control arms:

Axle Link Mount Bracket Pair – Barnes 4WD

Dana 30™ HD Lower Control Arm Brackets (pair)– Artec Industries

Rusty's Heavy Duty Lower Control Arm Mounts (rustysoffroad.com)


Clayton Off Road-1100104 Jeep Front Lower Control Arm Brackets 84-06 TJ/LJ/XJ/ZJ | eBay

 

From your video:

Jeep TJ/LJ/XJ/ZJ Front Lower Control Arm Brackets – TMR Customs

 

I'm not seeing how that piece can be removed and still be intact.

Get up early. Pull the axle.

 

Thx for your reply

Unfortunately, these days, I know longer do "get up early and work on vehicle"


Is there any reason I cannot very carefully grind and drill away the weld which is on the exterior of each side of the bracket (on the spare axle unit, which is lying free) ?

Once the welds are sufficiently weakened, I will work around with a hacksaw and air or cold chisel, flexing the upright until it is weak enough to basically snap of the axle housing

(a few hours work)

Once that is done, I will drop the LCA from my vehicle, and the absolute minimum of other parts, and cut out the damaged mount, which is beyond repair, so little care will be needed, just annoying

Clean up axle tube with grinder, weld it back together, paint (very careful measurements will be taken before i remove the item)

What can go wrong there gents ? Should be able to get most of the rest done in the arvo

A question. When I weld this up, I have a choice of MIG, or invertor arc. I have only .023 and .030 wire which should do, but it would be more convenient to use my tiny arc welder

Would arc be too lazy ?

 

pics (job isnt done yet, paid work has to come first)

Its amazing it drives so well, absolutely no vibration at any speed, but it does not steer perfectly well, hopefully nothing is to bent in the trackbar parts, I see the bolt is at a bit of an angle

anyway here is some pics of the damage, and the proposed donor