Calling in Re-Enforcements

[ludwigvan968]

http://jtlopez.dyndns.org/albums/re/pics_from_the_month_169.sized. jpg

This all started with chasing a squeak in the rear passenger side of my car… I was determined to find it. I was so determined I have spent the last 4 months looking for it. And well to say the least it has been an adventure. To keep it short I will highlight:

-first had my mechanic look, found broken welds

-looked for welder, found one, seemed reputable (mingos autobody) and said they would take care of it.

-Noise in sued

-mechanic looks again (this is where I heavily abbreviate things), shody welding and turns out my sway bar ripped the frame of my car

-take back to body shop, they say they fix everything, take it to mechanic right afterward, it was a total hose job!

-tell my hi-performance guys my situation, turns out they do custom fabrication and here starts the fun story!

So yeah, this past Monday I made my way down to Motion Dynamics (http://www.motion-dynamics.net/) to learn about welding and structural re-enforcement. Working side by side with Craig (an awesome chap if I might say so), we embarked on a welding/re-enforcing adventure. Eight hours later and some major sweat (turns out it was the hottest day in July in years, 105 degrees!!!) we had a fully re-enforced rear frame.

I learned a lot about MIG welding and how to cool parts when working on them. I also learned about re-enforcement in general. For a full photo diary check our my photo gallery (http://jtlopez.dyndns.org/gallery/re).

Here is a pic of the lower control arm before we boxed it.

http://jtlopez.dyndns.org/albums/re/pics_from_the_month_198.sized. jpg

Here is a pic of the lower control arm after we boxed it.

http://jtlopez.dyndns.org/albums/re/pics_from_the_month_217.sized. jpg


Here is a pic of the lower control arm after we boxed it and painted.

http://jtlopez.dyndns.org/albums/re/pics_from_the_month_233.sized. jpg


So yeah, these are just some of the photos I took throughout the whole process. And as for that noise? Well turned out it is the body flexing and is going to take a little more of Craig’s magic, all in time…

A special Thanks to Craig at Motion Dynamics, he really did a beautiful job!

[larryo340]

mechanic looks again (this is where I heavily abbreviate things), shody welding and turns out my sway bar ripped the frame of my car

While working at the dealer the upper sway bar mount was something on these cars that broke enough for my techs to look at it first on rear noise complaints.
It's just a fairly thin and flat piece of steel welded at the frame rail and crossmember.

[ludwigvan968]

While working at the dealer the upper sway bar mount was something on these cars that broke enough for my techs to look at it first on rear noise complaints.
It's just a fairly thin and flat piece of steel welded at the frame rail and crossmember.

yeah, if you look at the photo gallery I link to you can see how we re-enforced that thin plate.

[larryo340]

yeah, if you look at the photo gallery I link to you can see how we re-enforced that thin plate.

I just check the pictures, that should work out just fine.

[Aren Jay]

Would a Marauder have these problems or are the new frame specs such that this would not happen?

[ludwigvan968]

Would a Marauder have these problems or are the new frame specs such that this would not happen?

I believe the rear end setup is different with the marauder (and 03+ MGM/CV's), however, it might be worth investigating where the weak spots on that setup are (if any).

[Marauderman]

I believe the rear end setup is different with the marauder (and 03+ MGM/CV's), however, it might be worth investigating where the weak spots on that setup are (if any).

in any event.....thats why most MM owners in our earily stages immediately changed out our sway bars and upper and lower control arms to larger pieces.....much better and no problems............

[larryo340]

in any event.....thats why most MM owners in our earily stages immediately changed out our sway bars and upper and lower control arms to larger pieces.....much better and no problems............
It's not the sway bars that are cracking, it's the upper sway bar mounting point. I also think that they changed it after '03 on all the panther chasis.