Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Just got back from a weekend at Janowen hills and was checking out another new oil leak and saw this



The welds are cracked, the A frame is the only part of the rear suspension that hasn't been changed. Mainly because i'm unsure what to do with it. I know if i jack the body the drop is limited by the A frame but i doesn't seem to hinder cross axle movement. I have a new Maxi-drive joint to go in, I'm currently running 670mm long shock so it has great travel should i be looking at getting shorters ones?

i'm happy to weld it up but i'm worried about it happening again or worse complete failure.

Any help would be appreciated
Thanks
Brad

Very common failure - many people I know have just re-welded properly and not had any further cracking.

slightly off topic.... if and when this happens to me

is it worth changing the location/height of the knuckle, ie. are there any noticable gains handling wise by doing this? and I'm assuming the lowers will need to be modded at the same time to keep them parrallel?

I'm still doing limited reading on this kinda thing so forgive me for my lack of knowledge (if I look too much I'll start playing to much and my damn POS will never get mobile)

Cheers

Simon

Hi! Same thing happen me couple years ago. I Just rewelded it. Be careful, clean everything (important), test weld on some similiar steel thickness to adjust the right power and tread speed (if you useing MIG-welder). I havn´t had any problem with my since that I re-welded. Good luck! /Sam

The same happened to TIGGR in the 04 Vicwich. Just re-welded and also put some stainless steel rod to reinforce. This then survived the 05 OBC so it is a reliable fix.

Another option is converting the ball joint to a bearing pivot thingy. Cheezy has done many of these conversion, repositioning the location for accurate alignment as well.

Jason

This may be a dumb question, but is the problem being caused by hyper extending the ball joint, ie knuckling it out thereby placing stress on the mounting bracket? If so you'll need to get a high movement ball joint or modify the A frame for greater droop. This would entail lowering the upper mounts or modding the ball joint/mount - search around, there are some spacer kits available in the US/UK, not sure bout here though.

I just made a spacer for my a-frame, but some silly bugger put the fuel tank ontop and with the spacer it will fowl, Balljoint 70mm lower and 20mm forward, Whats this about a High movement joint and where from??

Thanks for the replies guys, i might look at a spacer when i reweld it.

Cloughy what did you make the spacer out of steel or alloy??

Is yours for sale?

I had a look at the cheezy setup but he has to fit it

Do the Maxi drive joints allow more movement??

Thanks,
Brad

I just gave Mal at maxi drive a ring to ask about the differences in the ball joints and if i could have been maxing out its flex.

He said that the cracks are usually caused not from over extending the ball joint A frame, but more the rotational forces through the diff (i guess from adding lockers and bigger tyres) he suggested gusseting it with some 25x12mm across the back so you can just get to the nut.

So i'll weld it this time and keep an eye on it

Thanks again for the replies
Brad

X.ENG do ball joints with 22deg of movement and are adjustable like mals.

Tim D wrote:X.ENG do ball joints with 22deg of movement and are adjustable like mals.

How many degree's standard, it'd be near that??

I knew someone would ask where? I read it somewhere........first I though Les richmond, but can't access the site for some reason, then I thought Maxi - but that looks worng...so not sure now, but clearly recall statements about high artic ball joints - maybe US Rovertyme...I'll keep looking. Spacer seems to be the go though.

Reddo wrote:I knew someone would ask where? I read it somewhere........first I though Les richmond, but can't access the site for some reason, then I thought Maxi - but that looks worng...so not sure now, but clearly recall statements about high artic ball joints - maybe US Rovertyme...I'll keep looking. Spacer seems to be the go though.

Spacer is no good for me, now i wanna ball joint, you got me excited, just about to spurt and mum walks in, that sort of feeling, that's what your doing to me reddo.............

yeah sorry bout that

...this may be what I was thinking of

http://www.mailorder4x4.com/acatalog/Of ... nents.html

..but the price is stupid....