Upper Control Arm Mount Repair

[Gone&DoneIt]

Need help Fellas,
I was driving home after a great day in the rocks. Taking it easy on the road home and noticed when I shifted the ass-end was squirly. Pulled over as soon as I could. The driver upper control arm bracket snapped. :bomb: The weld on one side and on the other the bracket snapped in half. First off I am sweating damage to the rear diff. I limped it home REAL easy, so I am hoping all is well...

So what am I about to run into? Anyone have this happen on their rig? I am thinking I am going to have to pull the rear axle housing,... pull the rear diff,... axles,...

someone please tell me all this isn't necessary.

 

[RAVEN13xxx]

I don't think there would be any damage to the rear diff unless you rode it pretty hard. I'd just weld up the bracket, gusset both of them a bit, and run it like you stole it.

Same thing happened on my 97 TJ, except on the pass. side. I had no damage at all to the diff.

 

[Gone&DoneIt]

I'd just weld up the bracket, gusset both of them a bit, and run it like you stole it.

Do I need to pull the axles and housing, or can I grind the old welds, remove the rest of the broken mount and just weld some beefier mounts with it together and under the rear?

Thanks by the way Raven,... that is really good news!!

 

[RAVEN13xxx]

I just got the control arm out of the way, ground down a good surface, and welded everything back together. I just used some 3/16 sheet metal and made a few gussets from that. Welded them to the sides and top of both the brackets. Hope this helps. If I still had the TJ, I'd take some pics, but it died and went to Jeep heaven (see pics in reader's rides).

 

[Gone&DoneIt]

I will see if I can weld the bracket back together and then sure it up some. Thanks again Raven.

 

[RAVEN13xxx]

Anytime

 

[JeepMonkey]

Did it break off the axle? I broke my driver side upper control arm bracket off the frame. Local 4x4 shop said it was because the angle on the arm was too extreme.

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

You shouldn't of done much damage if you caught it soon enough, as the axle will stay located pretty well with the three control arms and the trackbar.

I would weld it back on without removing anything except what is in your way getting to the welds.

 

[Utah_jeepster]

Not sure what rear diff your running Gone but just to make sure I would plan on changing the rear diff oil after welding on the housing. The 20 or so for new gear lube is better than 100 for new bearings.

 

[TwistedCU]

RE makes replacement mounts. You can find them on their website or from any RE dealer. Not sure if they are heavier duty than the stock ones but I would assume so. Chances are it was just a crappy weld if that is where it broke. A weld should be stronger than the metal it is joining. If the mount is intact, and just separated make sure it is done right this time.

 

[Gone&DoneIt]

Thanks fellas, and I absolutely agree with you Twisted on changing diff oil. The mount weld seperated on one side but the other side of the mount actually snapped in half. I am calling around today to find the RE brackets. Jeep Monkey, the entire mount snapped off the axle housing. I am also going to have to change my brake line coming off the metering block,... took a pretty good whack, and looks like it goughed it pretty good. Not willing to risk brake line popping going down Lions Back,... I am going to see if Shea (the tire carrier guy) can weld it back together for me,... I can't see it being a major repair now that I know I don't have to pull axles and diff out. 4" grinder and some knuckle skin should be about it. After digging around on the internet this happens A LOT with long arm kits,... Wow. Glad it happened here and not in Moab or on the Rubicon. Now I know it is a weakness and can get it fixed right before those trips. I'll snap some pics of the carnage,... it looks a lot worse than it is which is kinda cool. The rear track bar causes it to tweak all crazy.

Thanks Again All.

Jack

 

[redrooster]

Not necessary to change the gear oil. You won't be close enough to it to get it hot. Besides it wouldn't hurt it if you did. You are really only talking about 2" or so of welds on each side. That's not much.

 

[Sparky-Watts]

Sounds like it prolly wouldn't hurt to gusset all of them up, especially if that's a common problem. Might save you some time in the long run.