Need help! Frame cracked?
After i bought my jeep about a month ago i noticed this spot that almost looks like it was welded. I hadn't had a good chance to look at it until now. It almost looks like someone has welded the frame, maybe put a patch on it or something? Could the frame have been bent or is that something that was already there?




Ya I wondered if there was something I would find like that. it was painted before the PO had it. He stated he never had any issues with it, drove it from Oklahoma to his place in Colorado a couple times. I really hope this doesn't turn out to cause a bigger problem though..
Having bought many vehicles, I find myself not trusting anything a PO says, whether it's because they are covering up, or they just don't know what they're talking about. Be aware of how your XJ performs. Handing. Tire wear. Excessive flexing. Anything that may indicate that whatever caused the amateur weld job is not holding up. Watch it to make sure it stays sound. A decently skilled welder could probably take care of any issues that come up.
CF Veteran
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 12,367
Likes: 23
From: Oroville, CA
Year: 1995
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 with all of the noise and clatter
Having bought many vehicles, I find myself not trusting anything a PO says, whether it's because they are covering up, or they just don't know what they're talking about. Be aware of how your XJ performs. Handing. Tire wear. Excessive flexing. Anything that may indicate that whatever caused the amateur weld job is not holding up. Watch it to make sure it stays sound. A decently skilled welder could probably take care of any issues that come up.
With it being that far forward i bet its from a wreck,Is the passenger side like that or is it driver side only?And look at the door gaps on both sides are the the same or is the drivers side different then the passenger side.
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I can't look right now but from what i have noticed the door gaps don't look any different. The passengers side isn't like that just drivers side. I will try looking at it tomorrow again and maybe try getting some of the paint off too check it out better. It looks pretty sketchy though... I really hope it doesn't end up causing me more problems.
The fenders and bumper seem to be original, the paint doesn't look any different at least. I am going to check into it a little more.
The fenders and bumper seem to be original, the paint doesn't look any different at least. I am going to check into it a little more.
If the door gaps are tighter on the drivers side then the passenger side its probably been hit on the drivers side.And it could have been hit under the bumper by something low.
CF Veteran
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 4,172
Likes: 4
From: Riviera, Texas
Year: 1998 Sport
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
I hate to say it. But you got screwed! You should have checked it out before you bought it. I am more the positive that you WILL have problems with it cracking again with welds like that. I really hope that you didn't pay more then a couple hundred for it. What ever you do, DO NOT take it out wheeling or you will crack it a lot sooner.
Grind the welds down with a 36 grit flapper.
Find and stop-drill the end of each crack.
Grind out the cracks to create a valley.
Stitch weld until the length of the crack is filled in.
Grind smooth and then plate it.
Find and stop-drill the end of each crack.
Grind out the cracks to create a valley.
Stitch weld until the length of the crack is filled in.
Grind smooth and then plate it.
CF Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 4,734
Likes: 12
Year: 2015, 2012
Model: Grand Cherokee (WK2)
Engine: 3.6L
Somebody's been jumping your Jeep.
They broke it in half, stick welded it, spraybombed it with some K Mart paint and unloaded it.
"Clean! Never off road!"
It looks like Frankenstein's Monster under there.
They broke it in half, stick welded it, spraybombed it with some K Mart paint and unloaded it.
"Clean! Never off road!"
It looks like Frankenstein's Monster under there.
Last edited by Firestorm500; Jul 16, 2014 at 02:15 PM.
CF Veteran
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 12,367
Likes: 23
From: Oroville, CA
Year: 1995
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 with all of the noise and clatter
Frankenstein's monster's ball sack looked better than those welds.
The doors seem to line up the same on both sides. After inspecting it some more there appears to be a full plate running from the very front of the frame back to where it is welded. At the front it is bolts only nothing is welded. It is only welded where the pictures show. You can see up behind the plate in a couple spots and do not see any signs of being broke or anything. All of the fenders and everything seem to line up as they should.... I am going to have someone i know who knows a lot more about jeeps look at it whenever he gets a chance.
CF Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 4,734
Likes: 12
Year: 2015, 2012
Model: Grand Cherokee (WK2)
Engine: 3.6L
"Frankenstein's monster's ball sack looked better than those welds." AHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAAHA!
Welding overhead like that, I wonder how much hot slag dropped down that guy's shirt?
Welding overhead like that, I wonder how much hot slag dropped down that guy's shirt?
Last edited by Firestorm500; Jul 19, 2014 at 09:45 PM.


