kenko74

After investigating my previous thread's cause (front right Collaped....) I see the lower front suspension A-arm is separating from the frame cross member.

How do I begin to fix???? :confused: I see Corvette Central sells a "Front Crossmember Lower Repair Panel" so I guess this has happened before to others? I am really depressed..... :sad:

O.K. Here's an update. Everything is fixable, but I think we all need to take a serious close look at our front crossmenbers.

Be sure to weld the front crossmember lower plate, especially around the lower A-arm pivot bar bracket. I now know it's a PIA to get that area properly cleaned and prepped to accept the weld, but that's where all C-3 frames start getting stress fractures due to flexing, and due to the limited spot welding practice used at the factory. When the front lower suspension rips off the frame (and I believe all C-3's as they age will experience this), it could kill you. Afterwards, add a spreader bar between the upper A-arms (available from Vette Brakes for $79), to prevent future flexing and future fractures. Chevy should have installed these bars at the factory--poor design. I thought my car was in perfect shape, no visible frame rust anywhere, until this happened to me last week:






[Modified by kenko74, 2:14 PM 3/14/2004]

78 Vette

It can be fixed cheer up. All you need is a good welder and it will be better than new. This is somewhat common on these cars that's why the patches are available :cheers:

turtlevette

looks like you came close to losing the wheel.

Cali,68,L-79

Praise God you wern't doing 75 MPH whn the your A-arm, spindle and wheel decided to go on a cruise by themselves. he's right all you need is a good welder and your set. best of luck.

kenko74

Thank you for the encouragement (on my third beer already...:cheers: .).

What's the first step? Remove the front suspension and have the welder come on over to my home garage? Do I need to pull the motor? Body off????

Cali,68,L-79

I think your A-arms are bent, for sure right A-arms need to comes off. Had an accident recently????

Dalannex

I would say you should pull that lower A frame off and call a welder up to come on over and look it over for you. It doesn't look all that bad to me. Might take a little doing getting some of that steel to line back up again so your lower a frame mounting is in the right spot, but it's fixable. :cheers:

-Justin

norvalwilhelm

It is certainly fixable but will take alot of work. The entire front suspension must come out, the torn pieces pushed back into place and alot of welding and gusseting.'
The hardest part of welding is the cleaning, all rust, oil and dirt must be ground/wire brushed away.
YOu will need someone good with a mig welder to start rebuilding the area and do both sides. If one side started the other is not far behind.
We had a post on this a while back, or rather how to prevent this from happening.

killain

Your gonna need to strip EVERYTHING out of the way but that can be re-welded using new steel and it'll be like new. :yesnod:

I'd check the rest of the frame as well.

norvalwilhelm

This was one post on welding up the frame. http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=722538

cardo0

:iagree: My A-arm mounts were breaking off the factory welds were but had it welded up before failure. Was told this is common on the C3s. I'm guessing any good frame shop could fix u up.
You may wnat to inquire/suggest beefier mods when in for repairs. :yesnod:

marshrat99

:eek: Dang Dave. That really blows. If that had happened to me, I'd probably puke.

turtlevette

i got to looking at mine after thinking about what happened to you. The short metal bar looks like its trying to peel back the attaching lip on the frame.

I was thinking that an easy and convenient solution would be to find or fabricate a thick long metal strip to replace the two short strips.

The force would then be distributed across the entire front lip of the frame.

Ben's75

well, you're not alone on teh forum. I think that I and at least one other guy have had this happen in the last couple of months.

This is a no-brainer, but... when your guy is welding it up, make sure he reinforces the other side while he's at it :lol:

Ben

turtlevette

bump,

this is an important issue than needs more discussion.

can you repost the pictures or email to me?

norvalwilhelm

I have checked this post repeatedly and never see the pictures??

turtlevette

they're ugly.....real ugly.

stingraymax

I had the same thing happening to my car.
They pushed it back in place and welded it together again, no problem since.

kenko74

One pic posted, plus an update...

norvalwilhelm

they're ugly.....real ugly.

I got one picture and I think the quality of the picture is certainly good. As for the torn A arm mount the metal doesn't look that rusty, just torn so if it is pushed back into place the entire area can be rewelded and reinforced/
If you want a quick fix the car can be put on a hoist , jacks used to push the A arm back into place and then MIG WELD it closed. Add gussets.
The area around the area needs to be really clean, use a grinder to remove all grease and rust and weld it up.
You don't need a kit just get someone who is good at welding and they can repair it.