Cracked Front Frame Track Bar Bracket

[g.hayduke]

Hey gang. I went out on a easy ride with our club yesterday and this happened. At some point during the ride, I noticed my steering wheel was no longer centered. This cracked bracket is the cause.

Is it worth trying to repair what's there and reinforce it? Or should it be replaced with a stock bracket and potentially have this happen again? I'm just not sure what my best option is. My welding skills are still somewhat subpar.

As far as the cause, the only instance I can think of was this. I was stopped and didn't realize my left front tire

was up against a big rock. I was in 4L, started to take off in 3rd gear (6 speed), and stalled it because of the rock that I didn't know was there. That shouldn't have been anywhere near enough force to cause the crack. Maybe the crack was there and that was enough to open it enough to shift the axle over and show up at the steering wheel.

 

[tworley]

Likely the crack started forming long time ago. Clean up the crack, bevel the sides, and lay down some weld. You could build a stiffener to connect to the backside of the mount to the passenger side frame rail.

 

[PurpleTJAZ]

What he said……

It probably didn’t happen because of one incident, but more likely the effect of years of stress. Mine cracked (a little higher) and I ground out the crack and welded it up. No problems since. Also added a reinforcement strut that runs from the bracket to the inside of the frame on the passenger side. It helps support it on higher speeds off road.

 

[TJ Jim]

What he said……

It probably didn’t happen because of one incident, but more likely the effect of years of stress. Mine cracked (a little higher) and I ground out the crack and welded it up. No problems since. Also added a reinforcement strut that runs from the bracket to the inside of the frame on the passenger side. It helps support it on higher speeds off road.

Pics?

 

[g.hayduke]

Pics?

Pics of what?

 

[TJ Jim]

Pics of what?

. Also added a reinforcement strut that runs from the bracket to the inside of the frame on the passenger side. It helps support it on higher speeds off road

 

[mrblaine]

Hey gang. I went out on a easy ride with our club yesterday and this happened. At some point during the ride, I noticed my steering wheel was no longer centered. This cracked bracket is the cause.

Is it worth trying to repair what's there and reinforce it? Or should it be replaced with a stock bracket and potentially have this happen again? I'm just not sure what my best option is. My welding skills are still somewhat subpar.

As far as the cause, the only instance I can think of was this. I was stopped and didn't realize my left front tire View attachment 664426was up against a big rock. I was in 4L, started to take off in 3rd gear (6 speed), and stalled it because of the rock that I didn't know was there. That shouldn't have been anywhere near enough force to cause the crack. Maybe the crack was there and that was enough to open it enough to shift the axle over and show up at the steering wheel.

Happens generally due to washboard and higher speeds. Best prevention after the repair is a simple brace to the opposite frame rail as mentioned.

 

[g.hayduke]

Happens generally due to washboard and higher speeds. Best prevention after the repair is a simple brace to the opposite frame rail as mentioned.

Do you have a picture of how you implemented the brace?

 

[mrblaine]

Do you have a picture of how you implemented the brace?

No, been a long time since we did them. We stopped doing them once we put on hydro assist.

 

[PurpleTJAZ]

Pics?

This is what I did

 

[g.hayduke]

This is what I did

View attachment 664477View attachment 664478View attachment 664479

Thanks.