Crack to front suspension mount

[anonymous-user]

OK so cleaning up the engine bay and front end after engine pull, and I saw this to the pax side suspension arm mount. How easy is this to fix?? I see someone previously tried to stop it propagating but to no avail.

[gerradiuk]

Had similar on a Maserati track car, it happened after it came off the track a bit sharpish. Still at least you have found it before anything nasty happened , not the end of the world, good luck

[spongy]

should be easy enougth to weld that up,and maybe put a gusset in while your there

[scotty_d]

Look not to bad at least you can get to it quite easily i would plate it up on both sides and it will be stronger than standard.

[BCA]

...this is not so great.

Spoken to Dad and neither of us can think of anyone ever touching that area or mentioning/charging us for any work there?? Is there similar on the other side? (stress then I assume?)

I agree with what has been said, brace it adding an additional gusset and weld up to make it stronger than original. If you look at the top wishbones, they've had a gusset added onto them at the point where I snapped one at the front (drivers side, on the brakes into the corner after paddock at Brands. Porsche hunting! )

Has anyone else with a high mileage/properly used Cerby had anything similar? or any of you running sticky tyres?

[anonymous-user]

Hey Ben, its deff to the pax side only, I did check in case it was one if those "they all do that sir" instances!

Had a longer look this evening after dinner and seems like theres a second crack right next to the bush, but none of the pics came out well from the iPhone as I couldnt take the pic from far enough away.

Would the second crack change the repair strategy from sandwiching a couple of plates to a full replacement?

Any thoughts anyone?

[spongy]

when i look at the secound piccy it looks like someone has put sealer over the crack in the first place.......may be wrong.looks like it will need to be straightend...welded and then add some gusset plates in ....cant see why they did not do this in the first place

[plasticman]

I have seen similar cracks in that area before . The biggest force in that area would normally be compression so it would not normally tear in theorey but is obviously a week point . I have welded a horizontal plate between both supension plates in the past

[anonymous-user]

plasticman said:

I have seen similar cracks in that area before . The biggest force in that area would normally be compression so it would not normally tear in theorey but is obviously a week point . I have welded a horizontal plate between both supension plates in the past

That looks a nice fix. Would that approach still be usable even with the second crack adjacent to the bush or are we talking a new mount completely now? I think my scope of works has just increased to include a front suspension rebuild!

[anonymous-user]

Ok so my suspicion was correct (worse luck) and the suspension arm mount actually has two cracks. As above, plus a second right at the bush. Seems like the very front plate has moved forward too.

Options guys ??

[spongy]

Feck it im buying a welder now...and will teach myself a new skill.....bet mine are like up front when i get there.....seems to be going that way

[pmessling]

Weldings a great skill to have was lucky enough to get £30.000 worth of welding training as an apprentice. MIG TIG and MMA. The best thing is practice and to keep practicing even when your not using the skill as its easily lost. I know as my abilities have gone well down hill although my TIG welding is getting better again.

[Gazzab]

£30 of welding training, that must include getting a tinted mask and some nice gloves?

[pmessling]

You missed a couple of zeros thirty thousand pounds worth. It's nice knowing the fare paying public of London helped

[spongy]

I can gas weld,so hopefully my mig welding will be fine with practice.mind you i was 25 when i did the gas welding course.....so have kept the skill up.....not.

[anonymous-user]

So judging by the responses, this is just a weld up and go job?

[scotty_d]

Mig is easy the key is a clean and contamination free surface i just plated a good few holes in my chassis due to tin worm. Every Cerb owner should own a mig.

Need to go buy myself one and stop borrowing my mates

Steve I would just plate it up but be careful if using a mig as the metal is very thin at points and it can be easy to burn though ,just turn it right down if using mig.

You having nothing to lose to try plating it.

Edited by scotty_d on Thursday 29th March 08:32

[anonymous-user]

Thanks Scott.

On a more radical note, can that section be cut out, beefed up and replaced?

[BCA]

Sorry, been away.

I would weld it up and re-inforce it with a plate across the top like Plasticman's - it'll be much stronger than factory then. I personally wouldn't cut it away as it'll be tricky to make sure its all rebuilt in the right place without a jig and its overkill. Even if you just end up plating it, the Plasticman solution looks worthwhile if/when you eventually do a bodyoff, looks a decent solution.

I am still pretty shocked at this, it has had a reasonably hard life that car, but its never been on super-sticky tyres/ slicks, so I wonder how many others have started to tear themselves apart?! Strengthen it up and it'll be good for another 100k+ of proper use.