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Warning: My rear upper control arm mount ripped off the frame on a trail near Big Bear
I was crawling up a rocky section of Holcomb Creek Trail outside Big Bear Lake, California, and heard a loud bang. Got out and found my driver side upper control arm mount had completely torn off the frame, leaving the arm dangling by the brake line. I strapped it up with a ratchet strap and limped 14 miles back to town in 4 low, and now I am looking at either plating the frame or getting a new axle housing. Has anyone here repaired a torn control arm mount before, and did you plate it or just weld the bracket back on?
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hayden_rivera23d ago
That spot on the driver side frame rail is a known weak point on these rigs, the factory bracket is only welded on three sides and the frame steel there is thin from the factory. Before you decide on plating vs a new housing, check the frame right above and behind the tear for cracks or ripples in the metal. A lot of times the mount rips because the frame itself has been flexing for years and finally gave out. If the frame is cracked, plating is the only real fix, welding the bracket back on will just tear again on the next trail. I would also take a look at your track bar mount while you are under there, they usually go around the same time.
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