Upper control arm mount reinforcement(?)

Kev · Post by **Kev** » Fri Feb 06, 09 11:24 am

The boys over here are wittering on about reinforcing the top control arm mount. Anyone ever had an issue with this??
http://www.queenslandchryslers.com/foru ... =10&t=1120

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Fri Feb 06, 09 11:34 am

Can't see the photo Kev, but is it parent metal or cracked weld? Can you post the picture up. I'd like to see the failure mode.

Kev · Post by **Kev** » Fri Feb 06, 09 11:37 am

Did you click the links?

Stu · Post by **Stu** » Wed Mar 11, 09 11:56 am

First pic is of the blokes mount, accompanied by the following text:

An Aussie wrote: The link below will take you to a picture of the upper control arm front mount in my vj sedan.
The topic for discussion is; If i run urathane bushes does this need to be reinforced?
Later models have extra reinforcement from the factory.
I have been told that if i don't there is a good chance that over time the actual mounting bracket could cause a major suspention failuar.
Has anybody had this issue or heard of this happening.
My concern is the state of the roads and the consistant flogging our cars get from the bumps and pot holes that even when they fix them only seem to become worse.

Stu · Post by **Stu** » Wed Mar 11, 09 12:00 pm

The other photo's are : 1) His fix, 2) the "Factory" fix.

Just in case you can't see these at work.

Link is worth checking though.

Blue · Post by **Blue** » Wed Mar 11, 09 12:05 pm

Only problem I ever had with one of those was when it rusted through and fell off....

Other than that, never heard till now that there was any kind of problem.

Dave999 · Post by **Dave999** » Wed Mar 11, 09 1:57 pm

Yes the aussie cars have an issue here and with the actual upper control arm as well

mainly to do with the beating they got in earlier years when the roads were not the mirror smooth concrete they are now

the parts are identical or better than US versions but were of course welded together with chrylsers excellent quality control in the foreforont of the line workers mind

there is a chrysler service bulletin that outlines gusseting and triangle bits of metal you can weld in. its hidden away on the hemi6pack sites archive.
the fix was primarily for country dealers who found the locals had the ability to snap anything

an aussie car suffering with this issue will have cracks near the mount welds, if you check the gusseted section that runs from the mount to the top of the inner wing (where a press fit threaded pin comes through from the engine bay) it will show movement when you turn the wheel lock to lock

i drilled out the pins on mine and replaced with a bloody big bolt.

tightend up the steering no end

one side was rock solid, the other side had no cracks but showed mucho flex which is magnified by the length of this 8 inch gusseting running up to the inner wing top. oldly this gusset is not welded to the car at any point other thean the contrl arm mount

see pic below

the upper control arms for CL onwards have every corner join reenforced
because the arms used to fall to bits as well. they fixed this in the late 70s so i guess it was a symptom of heavier car (VH--> with more power being sold to a demographic who thrashed their cars harder than the previous VIP v8 owners of the 60s) i.e nackerd after 5-6 years

US UK cars don't seem to suffer unless its rust...mind thats based on never heard of this on any other message board.

The aussies have found that the urethane or nolathane (as they call it) front end kits that replace each and every rubber part in the front end cause bits of vital metal to snap off at an alarming rate...most places do a locally produced rather than imported mixed kit now where certain parts are kept as rubber others are harder urethan and some are soft self lube type stuff. my guess is the guy in question has seen all the stuff written about this issue and is just making sure he's ok with nolathane in this position. i'd say he probably is provide his car hasn't been jumped over every pothole for the last 40 years.

Dave

Dave999 · Post by **Dave999** » Wed Mar 11, 09 2:19 pm

oh

looks like i just repeated what was said on the original post

ah well

that'll learn me

Dave

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Sun Mar 22, 09 1:29 am

First Happy Bday you old git

Second Funnily stripped the bee out today and the bottom of the chassis at the rear K frame mount has damaged the bottom of the frame rail on the drivers side although it was rusty and thinned from the inside.
the shock tower and inner wishbone support brackets were fine though.
As I am rose jointing a tubular wishbone I could suffer the same probs so will brace the inner towers in a similar fashion thanks Kev