Outer Limits 4x4 Board

I went and had a look at a 97 vitara on the weekend. It was in pretty neat condition, the chassis rails were straight and only had 1 or 2 scratches. The gearbox cross mount had hit something and the front lip was bent back around 10mm, but the thing I wasn't to impressed with was the front suspension mounts, right under the front bumper had been welded up, as had the front tie-down point. It looked like a backyard weld job, as the welds were splattery and nowhere as neat at the factory welds. Also the grey undercoat gave it away a little. How hard would this car have been driven if these front mounts have cracked and required re-welding?

The price on the car was too high anyway (was through a dealer and they wanted another grand for onroads on top as well!!) but it got me thinking. I wouldn't know if the radiator was tilting back at all (as mentioned in the bible) as a tell-tale sign that the car had been driven hard. The radiator hose was sitting about 5mm from the rocker cover at the bend. Is this about right, or should there be more gap? Anyway, I'll keep looking.

The first thing I bent was the crossmember.




Do you mean these suspension points.

Yep, that looks like the spot, where the chassis rails meet the horizontal tube, although the horizontal tube was hidden behind the bumper, and there were little black covers at each of the bolt on points (where the blue brace is).

if it had busted mounts it has been ABUSED. i would'nt go near it.