Catastrophic rack removal (help)
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 958
Likes: 177
From: Newark Delaware
Catastrophic rack removal (help)
Well, tearing down the car for the heads cam swap and got to the rack. It was stuck in the passenger side ears, which I have read is a common issue. I pry'd a little too hard and snapped the ear. Ugh.
Question. Can I have the ear tig welded back in successfully or am I looking at a cradle replacement?
Thanks in advance,
Question. Can I have the ear tig welded back in successfully or am I looking at a cradle replacement?
Thanks in advance,
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 1,421
Likes: 302
From: CSRA, SC
Hard to say. Welding structural aluminum parts especially anything that sees cyclic loading is a really bad idea. Aluminum has a short fatigue life anyway and introducing a weld introduces a litany of difficult to control risks towards making it even worse. I would say it would be (minimally) at risk to break again if not likely to do so. It's up to you but for me a critical function like steering can't afford any risk.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,152
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
I'm not sure you'd be successful long term welding just the tab. Maybe if you could make a larger piece that welded to a larger area of the cradle or possibly weld another strip over it to spread out the repair.
Drifting
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,547
Likes: 210
From: Huntersville, NC
If you can keep it aligned while welding and the person can make a complete penetration weld with no flaws, it will last as long as the rest of the cradle. Those are pretty big If’s. I welded one up after a wreck at the track, but then I had access to our weld test shop and a mill to get the mating face in line.
That being said, C5 cradles are around and you can probably buy used for the cost of getting your broken one fixed.
Any more, when I pull a rack, I remove the tie rods at the inner connection. IIRC, the Oetiker clamps are 56mm and are inexpensive from Belmetric. GM wants your first born son for them. I posted the source for those clamps a few months ago here.
That being said, C5 cradles are around and you can probably buy used for the cost of getting your broken one fixed.
Any more, when I pull a rack, I remove the tie rods at the inner connection. IIRC, the Oetiker clamps are 56mm and are inexpensive from Belmetric. GM wants your first born son for them. I posted the source for those clamps a few months ago here.
Drifting
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,547
Likes: 210
From: Huntersville, NC
CV56BAND7 - Oetiker Adjustable 7mm Band Part number for the inner tie rod boot clamps belmetric is the supplier. Exact same part as GM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 958
Likes: 177
From: Newark Delaware
Well, we ended up welding the tab in place. Given the clean break on the tab, we felt pretty confident with the location. Installed the rack today without issue. I guess time will tell if it holds up. If it doesn't I'll replace the cradle.
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