Broken upper adjustable arm

[MaddBaggins]

Hey, look what else I broke. This break seems fresh. more than likely happened on this last trip when I broke the panhard. I just discovered it today and thru my old stockers in. Bad news is, the bushings are shot in my stockers, so I'll have to milk it along until I remedy that.

 

[MaddBaggins]

These are Slee adjustable uppers.

 

[OGBeno]

WOW! Holy cow Alvin. Definitely a string of negatives here.

 

[MaddBaggins]

It would appear I am hard on anything aftermarket and adjustable.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Alvin I have a set of stock uppers if you need some loaners

 

[-Spike-]

I didn't know Tucson had any 4.5 rated malls.

 

[MaddBaggins]

Alvin I have a set of stock uppers if you need some loaners

I just put my stocks back in. The bushings are shot, though. They'll do until I build new ones and get new bushings.

 

[MaddBaggins]

I didn't know Tucson had any 4.5 rated malls.

You've obviously never been to Park Place Mall.

 

[Tools R Us]

Very nice work!;p

 

[Wrench]

Poor weld.

 

[MaddBaggins]

It broke around the weld.

 

[Wrench]

It broke around the weld.

My point exactly. The weld created a sharp crease. So it created a nice environment for a crack. Like when you score paper it tears at that spot easily.

 

[Nay]

Common denominator = plastic bushings.

There is more to come if you continue to run plastic in applications that require twist.

 

[Nay]

It broke around the weld.

No, it broke around the overly restrictive plastic. The weld simply happened to be the weakest point when something had to give.

Other 4x4 applications figured this out a decade ago. That's why they run johnny joints.

 

[Wrench]

Other 4x4 applications figured this out a decade ago. That's why they run johnny joints.

Ya but plenty of Baja race trucks run poly.

 

[-Spike-]

Looks to me that the eye got hit right next to the weld, and the crack formed and followed the edge of the weld because it couldn't go through it. The edge of the weld would be the point of highest stress because the force on the part comes from the bar, pushing and pulling. I can't see this being a poor weld, not sure what you're seeing Wrench.

 

[MaddBaggins]

Pretty sure they were never hit, seeing as how they are the upper arms.

 

[freshspecbluegt]

Ya but plenty of Baja race trucks run poly.

AHH but race trucks only have to survive to the end of the race

 

[Cruiserdrew]

It looks like that crack was there a long time. Only the sides of the welded area were good and they finally gave way.

It could have cracked after welding or after pressing in the bushing.

Still, I agree that going back to rubber stock bushings would be a good idea.

 

[-Spike-]

Pretty sure they were never hit, seeing as how they are the upper arms.

Why is there a dent in the bushing? It does look huge for not much visible damage to the eye, but I figured the eye must have gotten pushed back out or something. If it didn't get hit, I guess you'd fault the thickness of material used on the eye. I believe the OEM eyes are cast or forged, with a protrusion to weld the arm to. At least that's what the lowers look like, I've been eyeing them lately, looking to cut off the arm tube and replace it with something thicker. I never dreamed of worrying about the uppers.

EDIT: I suppose the dent in the bushing could have been from the broken eye bouncing off of it. Also, I'd guess the poly bushing might have had something to do with it.