JT4x4
The Mud Pit => Wrenching => Topic started by: Axle on January 07, 2008, 06:40:58 PM
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So it looks like the warranty won't cover the breakage. The jam nut wasn't where it was supposed to be, which is what caused the failure over time. A new control arm is about $100 plus shipping. Here's a thought, though... What about welding the pin and arm together where they join, then putting the jam nut in place and welding that in place as well. I'd still be able to adjust the arm at the skid plate.
Thoughts???
Edit: Ok, just got off the phone with Rock Krawler and they agree with welding the pieces together. Alex, whacha doin'!!! ::)
Edit #2: Rock Krawler didn't TELL me to do the weld job, they just said it wasn't a bad idea. Their normal procedure is to replace the control arm.
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FYI, i have a mini torch, with metal that thick, you'll want to get it hot b4 trying to weld them together.
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got any pics yet?
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well, how did it ride on the way back, and what about setting it to the right spec's?
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It rode fine on the way back home. No noises or anything. But I know it won't last long in it's current condition. As far as making sure it is set correctly, I am going to back off some of the threads up front. Then I'm going to add some threads in the rear, weld the pin to the arm, then put the jam nut in tight and weld that too. I'll still be able to make adjustments using the front pin. Anyone have Alex's number? I have the hobby shop one, but they were closed today.
As far as pictures go, I don't really know what you want me to take a picture of. The only visible damage is the threads on the pin are a little flat. It's the threads on the inside of the arm that are what are supposed to fail. Just like they did. And all because of a stupid jam nut not being in place.
In other news... I will be going to pick up my 8.8 this next Saturday! Definitely excited about that. And, I got my Currie EZ tire deflator today from Quadratec. A birthday present to myself. Now I'll be able to air down alot faster and easier.
Edit: Man I love being in this club! I got a hold of Alex, and he said he isn't busy tonight. He's going to grab the welder and head over to my place to fix 'er up! I hope we don't need that torch of yours, Hot-Rod. Everyone is welcome to come over if you want.
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Well, I have no idea what your control arms are supposed to look like. I've got no idea what you're talking about pins and jam nuts and threads.
Got any pics of what it's supposed to look like?
What brand is the lift?
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Rock Krawler. I'll take pics of the fix up so everyone can see what's going on.
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;D
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have you tried out your deflaters yet? I'm curious as to how well they work. I'm thinking of getting some (going from a streetable pressure to <10# one tire at a time will take a while)
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have you tried out your deflaters yet? I'm curious as to how well they work. I'm thinking of getting some (going from a streetable pressure to <10# one tire at a time will take a while)
http://www.quadratec.com/products/95202_402.htm
Here is the one I have. Next time we go wheelin' I plan to try it out.
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thats pretty neat. Though i though you got the automatic ones that you just screw on each tire and they stop at a pre-set pressure
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that one is kinda cool. REAL fast.
I have the ones that screw onto each tire, they work great once you get them set.
I thought you had 2 sets of tires now?
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I do, but unless i do the swap right at the trail head (vice the nearest parking lot), i need enough air to drive to the trail head (and an air tank to get back). I dont' know how safe it its (or how good for the tires/truck) to drive a few miles on the road w/ only 5-8# (guessing at that, havn't aired below 25# yet).
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it's not safe at high speeds, but short of rolling it, really doesn't do any damage.
I've driven mine pretty far (like from my place to vanes, or my place to lakeview (and back)) on 5#s, just gets real sloppy, don't really want to take it over 40mph.
Also, 5 may be a bit low for 32"s
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broken control arms and tire pressure ... ::)
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same thing
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and how did the welding go?
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Thanks alot Alex!
Before
(http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s191/jt4X4/Axle/Axle%20pics/Broken%20Control%20Arm%20repair/BraydonWinter07027.jpg)
After
(http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s191/jt4X4/Axle/Axle%20pics/Broken%20Control%20Arm%20repair/ControlArmrepair005.jpg)
(http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s191/jt4X4/Axle/Axle%20pics/Broken%20Control%20Arm%20repair/ControlArmrepair004.jpg)
Me:
"So how well do you think this weld will hold up on the trail? Will it last a while?"
Alex:
"The other end will break before my weld does."
Talk about some QA! Now the axle is lined up under the jeep even better than before. Looking at the before pic, you can see how something like that would have happened. The pin was only screwed in half way, and it's probably been like that for quite some time. So now, the jam nut is welded directly to the control arm, and as you can see, it's a pretty fat weld. Now I just have to regrease it, and check all of the other ones.
Hot-Rod, I have your torch and I'll bring it to the meeting tomorrow. And thanks a lot for the winch plate! So I was doing some math, and I think so far just Alex and his welding magic alone has saved me some $300 between the exhaust fix and this. Wow, that club membership fee paid for itself a while ago!
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so, now you only have adjustment at the other end?
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Correct. The front part of the control arm is still adjustable, so when I put in the 8.8, I'll be able to line it up correctly.
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make sure when you do the adjustment you wrap the threads with somthing...!!! ;D
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what?
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Yeah, some lock-tite is going on there next time. Even Rock Krawler said they recommended using it, so I'm not sure why Rob didn't do it when he installed the lift. Maybe he just forgot. It happens.
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what?
The threads rattled themselves flat and then fell out. If the threads would have been wraped with teflon tape or somthing, the threads would not had rattled so bad. Loc-tite is good stuff as long as you are sure you have the adjustment right. so is jb weld ;D
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so is the included lock nut. :)
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so is the included lock nut. :)
one would think so huh?
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There are two types of locktight - permanent and non-permanent. the latter works really well, esp if you ever have to dissasemble it. It just adds the the "torque" factor
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so does rust ;D and it's free ;)
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so does rust ;D and it's free ;)
I guess it does. how many bolts did we have to cut off of your old heep because they had rust-tight on them?
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90%
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So I was doing some math, and I think so far just Alex and his welding magic alone has saved me some $300 between the exhaust fix and this. Wow, that club membership fee paid for itself a while ago!
That's friggin awesome. I love hearing/seeing shit like that about the club! ;) :-* It works out pretty nice eh? hehehe....Alex, again dude, you're a sweet member LOL!
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what did you say about his sweet member?
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um scott, i really think you need to get a welder soon.
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*Chokes*
*then waits*
Hey you know, they have a BS thread for this shit. *Grins* unless you like being put to task for Hi-Jacking....
ANYWAY back to topic....I was merely showing appreciation to Alex for all of the shit he does for the club. Hobby Shop access (HUGE), helping the guys out wrenching and welding (HUGE) etc.
Same way I let people know how it is appreciated if they:
1) show up to help a member out whose control arms made them go all girly on the road
2) have their wife design grapic images for FREE for the club, when they usually get paid for stuff like that
3) take things up on their own accord to research/get info on for the club (Axle and guns woot/Al with BeerFest etc), so that we can be happy little wheelers lol.
4) Go beyond the "I paid my dues and just wanna wheel" mode. (Not that there is nothing wrong with that ;) but the more work everyone puts into the club, the more bennies everyone gets from being part of a club!
You know. Things like that. Spread the love dude! Pay it forward or whatever....LOL!
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um scott, i really think you need to get a welder soon.
No welder anytime soon. His 2 year dream came true last night, and he just purchased a $1700 mattress set. LMAO. I love the bennies of that.
*grins* like I said. Spoiled in ways you guys just don't know LOL.
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um scott, i really think you need to get a welder soon.
No welder anytime soon. His 2 year dream came true last night, and he just purchased a $1700 mattress set. LMAO. I love the bennies of that.
*grins* like I said. Spoiled in ways you guys just don't know LOL.
Grrrr, baby.... Grrrr. ::)
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wow, that was too much info
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::) I meant that his "toys" aren't just limited to offroad variety, not specifically anything concerning a mattress set. IE: cell phones, TVs, beds, PS2 stuff etc.
Geez. Pervs. Get your minds out of the gutter!
(if only to let mine float on by :P)
Ok - back to topic. Axle. How ya doin' dude? LOL
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I think it is truly impossible for this club to keep threads related 100% it seems that no matter what happens, they get hijacked. Not by the same person, but by the same group take a look for your selves and some always has help. So anyway, topic. the Control arm is fixed and everything works great now all I need is a welder to take on a trail and I am set, that is my dream, welder and cutting torch set up on the jeep not just a trailer behind it.
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you can arc weld with an alternator
and if you run a decent compressor and a tank you can run air tools
a bit of gas to run a torch
you've got a mobile garage!
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how can you weld with an alternator?
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if you don't have a d.c. inverter and voltage regulator on it, an alternator is putting out some pretty high current a.c. voltage, along with a few jumper clamps and some welding stick, makes for a pretty crude arc welder.
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http://www.huv.com/jon/jeep/Welder/portable-welder.html (http://www.huv.com/jon/jeep/Welder/portable-welder.html)
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/t.molnar/Obwelder1.htm (http://mywebpages.comcast.net/t.molnar/Obwelder1.htm)
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how can you weld with an alternator?
http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/on-boardwelder/index.html (http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/on-boardwelder/index.html)
here is one way. I have another write up as well
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humm bet I could swing a hundred amp ford alternator into the belt path where the AC compressor would go, an external regulator one like my van takes can be had for under $100
stop making me think like this guys
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basicly like welding with batteries
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the other one is much simpler, I just need to find the url...
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www.geocities.com/Yosemite/2472/obweld.html?20085 (http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/2472/obweld.html?20085)
here it is
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I am not going to build one this weekend,.
maybe next weekend
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basicly like welding with batteries
no... alternators don't explode
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so are you driving the jeep around and stuff?
back on topic!!!
does it feel any different?
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Feels brand new. At least it feels 10x's better than before. I've been driving it since yesterday, and no problems.
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are you gonna wait till you get a new one to wheel, or is it strong enough as it?
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It's stronger now than the other side.
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It's stronger now than the other side.
Can you weld the other side, to make it as strong, so you don't get a repeat performance of what you did on your Bday!?
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I could, but I don't want to do that unless I absolutely have too. The reason they are designed to fail first is to prevent me from breaking my axle or frame. If there is too much stress on the control arm, I could rip it off of the axle or frame, causing some serious damage. Welding one side is ok, but if both sides go, then it's time for a new control arm.
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I could, but I don't want to do that unless I absolutely have too. The reason they are designed to fail first is to prevent me from breaking my axle or frame. If there is too much stress on the control arm, I could rip it off of the axle or frame, causing some serious damage. Welding one side is ok, but if both sides go, then it's time for a new control arm.
ummmmmm...
I am confused....
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It's stronger now than the other side.
I guess thats a yes?
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See, your rubbing off on me J. Now I'm speaking Nuke! ;D
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ok, so im guessing that you can wheel it.
keeoing in mind that getting the new axle on, welding both sides, might hinder adjustments for proper and safe set up.
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See, your rubbing off on me J. Now I'm speaking Nuke! ;D
me no speak nuke, me speak engineer :D
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That's right on the money, Hot-Rod. Speaking of the new axle, I should have it home by Saturday afternoon!