Passenger Rear Upper Control Arm Bracket

[jtf440]

So on the way home from taking senior portraits, I heard a clunking whenever I accelerated from a stop. I get home and look under the Jeep and this is what I see.

So I say "ah shit... etc" and start prepping the surrounding area. Take control arm off, take driveshaft out, move sway bar link, tie exhaust off, etc. I inspect the bracket out of the Jeep, and I notice something.

 

[jtf440]

That sure as hell looks like a bad weld to me!

 

[JDS123]

Wow, thats a new one. Haven't seen anything like that before. Out of curiosity, did you notice any drivability issues besides the clunk?

 

[ac_]

Yep that will make a clunk!

 

[jtf440]

Wow, thats a new one. Haven't seen anything like that before. Out of curiosity, did you notice any drivability issues besides the clunk?

I was cruising at about 35 MPH and I could've sworn that I felt the ass end shaking around, but I'm not sure. There was no obvious sign something was wrong, other than the clunking. My lower control arm bolt holes on the frame side are wallowed out a bit, and they occasionally loosen up, causing a loud and painful snapping sound whenever I accelerate or decelerate. I wonder if those 2 have a cause/effect relationship, or it was just a coincidence.

 

[ac_]

It seems to me that if you have all of the other control arms moving around that could definitely stress the welds of the tight ones.

 

[jtf440]

It seems to me that if you have all of the other control arms moving around that could definitely stress the welds of the tight ones.

That makes sense to me. Now I have a good reason to weld some washers on the lower control arm brackets. Should fix my problem.

 

[Rob5589]

Yikes! Pretty sure it shouldn't be removable like that

 

[MutantNinjaTJ]

What year and model is your Jeep? Wonder how many others are like yours. Doesn't take a weld inspector to see that is a poor attempt at fusion. And yes, weld some heavy washers over the wallowed out holes on the control arm mounts. After I found the sweet spot on the rear cam bolts I used to correct the pinion angle on mine, I tacked the washers in place to keep them from moving out of position while wheeling.

 

[jtf440]

@MutantNinjaTJ It is a 1998 Sport. It came from the factory with a Dana 35, but I swapped an 8.8 in.

 

[ac_]

@MutantNinjaTJ It is a 1998 Sport. It came from the factory with a Dana 35, but I swapped an 8.8 in.

Oh shit, I did too, maybe I should inspect mine too.

 

[jtf440]

Oh shit, I did too, maybe I should inspect mine too.

That's not a bad idea

 

[pcoplin]

It's actually pretty common. It's happened to me also.

Currie used to make a reinforcement kit to beef them up. You can make something like this pretty easy.

https://www.northridge4x4.com/part/...rprises-rear-upper-control-arm-bracket-braces