Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Changed out my diffs/gearbox/transfer case oils yesterday.... Looks underneath car this arvo to see a puddle of oil under the front diff. After scrubbing it off with a wire brush I found a fine crack alongside one of the welds on the front edge where the oil is weeping from. Can only assume the original level was low enough not to show and now I have filled her up she leaks :(

Now ... How to get it repaired?
Ideas ?
Suggestions ?

I know a bloke who had this happen to his early mdl GQ. They drained what was left of teh oil. Sprayd the area with Aerostart (or anyother good degreaser will do the job). Get someone to weld it back up. Paint it if you like then fill with oil.
As long as it is just a fatigue crack it is an easy fix. Early GQ's with out swaybars tend to have this problem. I am waiting for mine to do it.

Yes, just get the crack welded up, will be fine.

How long do u think the crack is?
If its not too long then prob just a fatigue crack, if its larger then it may be more series and could cause more problems.

Id say just a weld will fix it up fine for ya

Crack is probably 2 -3" long at best and right alonside an existing weld. I havent done any heavy 4Wd work or smacked the diff on anything so I guess its just fatigue.

Any ideas what would be a reasonable cost to have it welded ? My welding = birdshit

you have a GQ?
been through this fourteen times and tried all sorts of welding, drilling holes at the end of cracks etc.
had it done professionally a couple of times, tried welding inside and out, brazing, arc welding, mig welding etc.
corrugations are the worst offender for starting it.
pretty sure the only way to stop it is to brace the housing as i think the pumpkin is moving up and down in relation to the hubs.
later model housings don't do it

turps wrote:I know a bloke who had this happen to his early mdl GQ. They drained what was left of teh oil. Sprayd the area with Aerostart (or anyother good degreaser will do the job). Get someone to weld it back up. Paint it if you like then fill with oil.
As long as it is just a fatigue crack it is an easy fix. Early GQ's with out swaybars tend to have this problem. I am waiting for mine to do it.

mine was an 89 st with swaybars and bothe front and rear housings cracked several times .

Yeah ... `89 GQ Diesel. This blooody thing lives on the corrugations :(

Wonder if a mate can knock up a brace for me

yeh just weld it and brace it if its a re occuring problem in GQs......

Not sure how old your truck is, but this is a common problem on early GQ's. My rear housing('89 GQ) has cracked right beside the pumpkin, right where the welds join at the tip of the triangle. If your in Melb, go and see Cheezy and get him to weld it up.

Nick

Is it only the 89's that crack or up until the gu's? i've got a 91. I will be checking in the morning for cracks.

its the models with the lights in the body that it happens to.
doesn't seem to happen to the models with the lights in the bumpers.

big red wrote:its the models with the lights in the body that it happens to.
doesn't seem to happen to the models with the lights in the bumpers.

okay, i have put lights in my bumper, does this mean i fixed the problem........... joking..........

Get a GU diff to replace it or better still get a GU

Took a drive into Alice on monday and put on a concerned face
Welder took one look and laughed .... Apparently does literally dozens of repairs on Cruisers and Patrols alike. One particular 2000 model Patrol that gets the shit flogged out of it on the corrugations has been welded 14 times so far ... Cracks in a different place each time.

An hour and 65 bucks later she is all fixed (along with the smaller crack I hadnt seen ! )

Thanks for the advice

Slug wrote:Took a drive into Alice on monday and put on a concerned face
Welder took one look and laughed .... Apparently does literally dozens of repairs on Cruisers and Patrols alike. One particular 2000 model Patrol that gets the shit flogged out of it on the corrugations has been welded 14 times so far ... Cracks in a different place each time.

An hour and 65 bucks later she is all fixed (along with the smaller crack I hadnt seen ! )

Thanks for the advice

it will happen again and happens quicker each time ... last one i had was welded up with a huge engine driven pipline welder and lasted from weipa to captain billys

Had the same prob, i have now fully braced the centre and no probs since

I have some pics of the bracing some where, when I find then I will try to post them up.

bundyrum4x4 wrote:Had the same prob, i have now fully braced the centre and no probs since
I have some pics of the bracing some where, when I find then I will try to post them up.

Cheers
Have a Fitter / Machinist mate at home who would be happy to make me up some braces if I ply him with a little rumbo !!