Advice on Lower Control Arm damage & repair

[Triathlete]

Sue, to do that damage you surely would have heard and felt it. That would require a VERY hard hit.

[JoFotoz]

The object of Air bagging Sues ride is to give her easy entry/exit at a suitable/comfortable height...

...and the ability to lift once settled in, for good 4X4 ground clearance.

As for the trail ratings in the guide book...OUT OF DATE!

Increased usage, rain errosion, and decreased trail maintenance have IMO, radically altered many of the trails.

Some are easier than they were...most are/seem harder.

jo

[vt_maverick]

The object of Air bagging Sues ride is to give her easy entry/exit at a suitable/comfortable height...

...and the ability to lift once settled in, for good 4X4 ground clearance.

Hence "lift and slam."

[JoFotoz]

...I hear ya Mav.

Hence "lift and slam."

...was really just laying out the gist of what Sue and I have been chatting about..
.......to help anyone with airbag skills chime in.



jo

[nfpgasmask]

Hey Sue, I didn't read through every reply here, but honestly, I agree with Giz. It does not look like you bent the frame mounting piece that holds the LCA bushing.

From what I see, you should replace your LCA with a straight one, get new LCA bushings, and have all that installed.

I just checked car-part.com and it looks like the late model Rodeo LCAs are the same as they come up in the search....looks as cheap as $35.

I think you should leave the frame alone unless there really is significant damage, which does not appear to be the case.

Bart

[VX KAT]

Discussed with my guy again (by phone)-

• Thinks vertical frame piece is pushed rearward from the impact
  
  
• Vertical piece in RED is welded to the frame
  
  
• Wants the piece of donor frame in GREEN with several inches on either side of the vertical piece, so he can remove the vertical piece himself, nice and clean.
  
  
• He does not have frame repair equipment so can't do laser measurement
  
  
• Made appt for tomorrow to put it on rack and take closer look.
  
  
• May take it to a frame shop to confirm if vertical piece is out of spec. BEFORE I commit to anything.
  
  
• I'd PREFER to have him do LCA/bushing replacement, and alignment.
  If he can't align, would that confirm frame piece is out of spec?
  I realize that would cause double labor if frame piece is out of whack and THEN needs to be replaced.

[VX KAT]

Sue, to do that damage you surely would have heard and felt it. That would require a VERY hard hit.

Oh I heard and felt it alright! I had 3 really bad slams coming down Porcupine Rim.