front lower suspension arm sheared off... seek advice

cured1 · 07-05-2005, 09:03 PM

So I switch vehicles with my girl for a day and when I get it back this is what I find:

It looks like I need a new axle tube to fix this little situation. Any heavy duty replacements out there? the suspension arms look pretty weak too, might replace those while I am at it.

otisdog · 07-05-2005, 09:09 PM

You can get the brackets from Rubicon Express - a lot beefier than stock. you don't need a new axle tube. I tore one of mine off a couple weeks ago and had a fab shop put the RE brackets on both sides and also boxed them in with skids. They ain't gonna rip off now. Sorry - no pics. If you are going to replace the control arms get some that flex such as RE Superflex.
jim

cured1 · 07-05-2005, 09:55 PM

Thanks otis! I'll look into that.

**Jerry Bransford** · 07-05-2005, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by otisdog

You can get the brackets from Rubicon Express - a lot beefier than stock. you don't need a new axle tube. I tore one of mine off a couple weeks ago and had a fab shop put the RE brackets on both sides and also boxed them in with skids. They ain't gonna rip off now. Sorry - no pics. If you are going to replace the control arms get some that flex such as RE Superflex.
jim

Ditto all that exactly. The same thing happened to my TJ and I just swapped in Rubicon Express's control arm brackets which are far heavier than the factory brackets are. No big deal, what happened to your axle is not all that unusual.

james985 · 07-05-2005, 11:41 PM

is it driveable like that?!

how did it get home???

JeepGal · 07-06-2005, 03:09 AM

I just put in Currie's

They were $40 for the set, and I added the mini-skids as well

Tam

Steve B · 07-06-2005, 06:20 AM

Hello everyone,

May I ask a question on this subject.

I am currently rebuilding my front and rear diffs. and have the axles off the jeep.

If I were to make the factory welds stronger by welding both sides of the bracket rather than just on one as the factory do would this be sufficiant?

I won't be rock crawling which is what I presume puts the stress needed to break the brackets. But I do have the skyjacker lower control arms fitted.

Thankyou to any replies.

Regards,

Steve B

Tumbleweed01 · 07-06-2005, 06:28 AM

Steve B-Since you have the axles off now, why not order a set of the replacement brackets and skids, weld them up; and be done with it. Your idea of welding both sides would improve it-but you still only have the "tin-foil" thickness of the bracket to worry about.
Rock crawling alone is not what tears them off. Anything can do it. Stump, log, frozen clumps, rocks, etc. Just a weak point in Jeeps. Note, they can also be torn off without hitting something, but that is the normal cause.

otisdog · 07-06-2005, 07:41 AM

Yea Steve B it's the metal that usually rips not the weld. It was the same with mine. That metal is really thin.
jim

**Wheelin98TJ** · 07-06-2005, 08:17 AM

If you still will be using your cam bolts, another option for replacement heavy-duty brackets is Rusty's.

I don't think the RE or Currie brackets have provisions for cam bolts.

Steve B · 07-06-2005, 08:43 AM

Thanks guys, will do it properly

07-05-2005, 11:41 PM	#5
james985 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 99 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	is it driveable like that?! how did it get home??? __________________ [CENTER] 98 tj ar23's with 31's 4.10 gears [COLOR=Red]red jeep club member #283[/COLOR] [/CENTER]

07-05-2005, 09:55 PM	#3
cured1 Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Location: Hollywood, CA Posts: 11 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Thanks otis! I'll look into that.