Bumper bracket welds (2 Viewers)

[fj40cm1980]

I'm installing a new bumper and saw that one my brackets that has these 2 dimple welds just split over time.

My question is, what is the best way to mimic these factory dimple welds? I'm only a hobbyist welder and I could just weld the bracket on but I want to try and match this factory weld. Any ideas or advice is greatly appreciatted. TIA!!

 

[charliemeyer007]

Those are rivets. Usually red hot when placed and then hammered to a swage fit with like a pneumatic hammer and the proper bucking plate. Iron bridges were built that way. Airplanes were assembled with aluminum ones. Howeird Hughes' boys developed flush rivets for faster airplanes.

 

[Engineer8000]

I used button head socket cap screws to replace a few items connected to my frame, including the front bumper brackets. I ordered them from McMaster Carr.

Front body mount brackets to frame.

front bumper

 

[charliemeyer007]

I like graded bolts, but I'm not a purest by any means.
This guy is doing it DIY.

 

[Engineer8000]

Agree if you are going to rely on these bolts to resist shear stresses from winching, I would use a graded bolt sized for your winch load.

 

[fj40cm1980]

I like graded bolts, but I'm not a purest by any means.
This guy is doing it DIY.

Awesome video, thanks for sharing!

 

[charliemeyer007]

So IMHO the holes need to accept the heated rivets (that are expanded from being red hot) quickly and easily so they can be upset in one pass - heating the area to finish the job is wasteful and could weaken the surrounding area. Some things are two person jobs - that's why there are crew served weapons.

But yes I like DIY people in general - it usually doesn't take much talent or skill to destroy stuff - however to design/build/repair stuff well is a sure sign of smarts.

 

[peesalot]

Thats is wierd, never saw a rivet do that, maybe a large impact on that side at 1 point. Any bolt there should have full shank thru both bracket & frame and should fit the hole ( not smaller ). If you like rivets you can make a tip for an air hammer, get some rivets off amazon, put rivet in from inside, build a brace to other side of frame to hold rivet in TIGHT, I use a porta power, put bracket on , hold with C clamp, torch rivet, have at it with air hammer, The pocket you grind into tip will determine finished rivet head shape, you don't want it too flat. A little mig tip dip on the hammer tip makes it easier.

 

[fj40cm1980]

Thats is wierd, never saw a rivet do that, maybe a large impact on that side at 1 point. Any bolt there should have full shank thru both bracket & frame and should fit the hole ( not smaller ). If you like rivets you can make a tip for an air hammer, get some rivets off amazon, put rivet in from inside, build a brace to other side of frame to hold rivet in TIGHT, I use a porta power, put bracket on , hold with C clamp, torch rivet, have at it with air hammer, The pocket you grind into tip will determine finished rivet head shape, you don't want it too flat. A little mig tip dip on the hammer tip makes it easier.

Thanks for the tips...I actually may attempt to do it myself!!

I think that side of the bumper did take a small impact at one point but was also surprised that the rivet split like that.

 

[charliemeyer007]

You know the Titanic sunk because of rivet failure and plate fracture from sulfur contamination making it brittle when cold.

 

[peesalot]

To prevent frame horn spread you can either tack weld a bar or use chain or a good strap otherwise you may tweak the horns, it takes a good sturdy backing for that rivet, I got a 5lb small sledge from a garage sale & ground a dimple in it, use the porta power against that

 

[pb4ugo]

I usually remove those extension, they screw up the approach angle when offroad. If the BHSCS are alloy they are likely stronger than a Grade 8 bolt.