I would not say fatigue fracture is out of the question at all. THis particular point would be a one of signifcant tension and compression loads caused by downward moment on the front clip relative to the rest of the body, plus, as bernd's experiments with the ramps show, torsional flex of the body caused by frame torsion. A stress concentration here seems entirely resonable, particularly with thousands of flexes from offroad, amplified by the stiffer springs (bernd are these 886s?).
My question is what would be the repair? Cinch up the crack, weld it shut and add doubler plates? Would this be a terribly difficult or expensive thing to do?
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BC MT6, Pkg2, KOs, rack, rails, Warn clevis hitch, tungsten Abrams shifter, I-Way, Baja 480C, 300W maplight, aux backuplights, aux battery w/ separate house power incl 3 12 v sockets, gerrycan rack, 3 OD Scepter MFCs, 2 black Scepter MWCs, 1500 inverter, dead buzzers/DRL, 1 kilowatt incandescent camp light, Iridium
I would not say fatigue fracture is out of the question at all. THis particular point would be a one of signifcant tension and compression loads caused by downward moment on the front clip relative to the rest of the body, plus, as bernd's experiments with the ramps show, torsional flex of the body caused by frame torsion. A stress concentration here seems entirely resonable, particularly with thousands of flexes from offroad, amplified by the stiffer springs (bernd are these 886s?).
My question is what would be the repair? Cinch up the crack, weld it shut and add doubler plates? Would this be a terribly difficult or expensive thing to do?
This might be what I am going to end up doing.
I thank everyone for there input. We are all learning something here and should not jump to any conclusions. This could be caused by a combination of things. We need to take the time and figure it out. So that this does not happen to the rest of our group.
I thank everyone for there input. We are all learning something here and should not jump to any conclusions. This could be caused by a combination of things. We need to take the time and figure it out. So that this does not happen to the rest of our group.
do the new Warn mount allow for any play(gaps)....if not...shim the bumper away from the truck so you have an inch gap all around....weld the seems...and call it a day...hope I helped...Kurt
do the new Warn mount allow for any play(gaps)....if not...shim the bumper away from the truck so you have an inch gap all around....weld the seems...and call it a day...hope I helped...Kurt
I'm not sure if the gaps help since Cruiserlarry also runs the ARB and has the same rips.
I would not say fatigue fracture is out of the question at all. THis particular point would be a one of signifcant tension and compression loads caused by downward moment on the front clip relative to the rest of the body, plus, as bernd's experiments with the ramps show, torsional flex of the body caused by frame torsion. A stress concentration here seems entirely resonable, particularly with thousands of flexes from offroad, amplified by the stiffer springs (bernd are these 886s?).
My question is what would be the repair? Cinch up the crack, weld it shut and add doubler plates? Would this be a terribly difficult or expensive thing to do?
i totally agree the cracks are clear fatigue cracks. but i believe that it requires the buckling event first. this causes a stress concentration point and weakens the material through yielding. now you created the perfect conditions for crack initiation and crack propagation...
in order to fix the problem, the body frame needs to be straightened in this area and welded (with reenforcement). but don't forget to change the bump stop on the lower control arm! otherwise u will do it over and over again...
I am very curious at this point, to see the condition of the Trail Team FJCs, both from last year, and this year....Team members, any help here from your loyal customer base ????
I'll try to get Tim Scully's input on this when he wakes up
Last year, I went on a journalist run with them. At then end, one of the trail team members flipped out his knife to tuck the right passenger fender flare back into place. How did that happen? i asked. Well, sometimes the ARB bumper hits hard and pops it out of place. hmmm, anyone else have this happen?? They don't jump theirs either
I'm not sure if Tim or Damian installed the bumpers this year, but Tim is really particular of his bumpers placement in relation to hitting the body (big gaps). I have no idea who did the install the year before that.
Nice investigative work here (esp homie)! Sorry to hear about the fractures
as far as body flex, ever here your doors rattle offroad?
bernd, thank you for posting this thread! it seems it is now taken serious...
the first few time this issue got addressed the people mainly got flamed for it.
we will stay in touch and hopefully find a solution for this problem.
anyone else out here who has this problem, please send me an email or a priv. message with the contact information. the more evidence and people we get together the better! i'm happy to coordinate some actions...