Broke my right lower control arm

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Abri Hoffman
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Broke my right lower control arm

Post by Abri Hoffman »

Went camping this weekend and they a little obstacle course at Klein Kariba. Went playing with some guys and on uphill axle twister, I just could not get up. Initially my diff-lock would engage and then disengage just as I enter the axle twister. Opened the bonnet and saw that one of the vacuum pipes at the solenoid had a crack. Fixed it tried again and heard the right rear wheel make the most horrible noise against the body. Reversed and climbed a 500mm step to get out of the obstacle. On closer inspection the lower trailing arm was snapped in two. I had to bends that must have been there before I bought the vehicle as I cant recall any big bumps that may have damaged the arms.
Will have to rebuild the right one and reinforce the left. Will post some pics tomorrow.
Last edited by Abri Hoffman on 04 Sep 2009 09:02, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Broke my right lower trailing arm

Post by Abri Hoffman »

The hill that broke my trailing arm :think:
Was going up this hill and could not get through the axle twister. A fortuner made it up but could not crest. Obviously I have better clearance, articulation, you name it. And I could not make it. Was very confused at this point as why the Trol did not wanna go up.
Image

Then I saw my diflock light come on and go out whilst trying to drive up. Quickly checked the vacuum hoses and found the fault and fixed it. Now I was ready to quickly go over the hill.
STILL NO GOING OVER :thumbdown:
I also heard the wheel catching the body and found it strange.

Stopped to inspect what was going on:
Image

OK, now I understood the problem, Ego severely damaged since I quickly did all the obstacles to show the guys how it is done, this was the last one. Thereafter they would be driving it and me giving some advice, direction etc.

Quickly bandaged the broken arm to enable us to drive home.
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Re: Broke my right lower trailing arm

Post by Abri Hoffman »

After a very nervous trip home, the Patrol not me :wink: I removed the arm to inspect the damage.
On the trip home every time I applied to reduced power the car would suddenly move to one side which was not very confidence inspiring.

The trailing arm removed from the trol:
Image
Image

And then I found the culprit
Image
Some prior damage to the arm has over time resulted in the arm bending and eventually braking.

Showing the angle at which the two pieces fit together and where it eventually broke.
Image

I am very glad it happened 130km from home and not in the middle of Kaokoland.
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Re: Broke my right lower trailing arm

Post by Abri Hoffman »

Now for new improved trailing arms, just spoke to Pierre Becker and I may very well be buying his improved ones as he will be building even stronger ones to support his vh45 and 37" tyres.
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Re: Broke my right lower trailing arm

Post by Tjaart »

Abri

Jy is baie unlucky / lucky. Erens het daai trol 'n lelike hou gekry op daai arm. Gelukkig het jy nie vinnig op 'n grondpad gery of so iets nie. Moet se, die Patrol sukkel soms op sulke roetes oor hy so lang wheel base het. Maar, dis die enigste ding. Ek het vir my lekker heavy duty rock sliders gebou en storm nou die bultjies met gemak!! Laat weet asb hoeveel die ekstra sterk arms gaan kos!!
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Re: Broke my right lower trailing arm

Post by Abri Hoffman »

Tjaart, as jy nou sien hoe die arm gebuig het besef 'n mens die fors wat geplaas word op die komponente wanneer difflock aan is en die kar hard moet werk.

Jy is reg dat ek gelukkig is dat dit nie op spoed gebreek het nie, maar ek glo ook nie dat dit sommer sou gebeur het anders as in die toestande waar ek was nie. Die hou op die arm is egter 'n baie snaakse merk in die sin dat dit lyk of hy met 'n byl gekap is. Reguit en diep.

So kry mens dan ook die geleentheid om hierdie goed reg te maak. Ek hou daarvan my voertuig moet reg wees wanneer hy gelaai is soos op 'n overlanding trip en dan steeds ernstige obstacle kan handteer.
Ek glo so binne die volgende jaar of twee sal alles reg wees wat reg moet wees. :thumbup:
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Re: Broke my right lower trailing arm

Post by Jules »

Abrie was die gebuigde gedeelte ( naaste aan die bush) aan die bokant of onderkant. Ek probeer net visualiseer of die eerste buig deur die voertuig self veroorsaak is as mens kyk na die reguit lyn van die knak.As dit wel so is wat was so pap of was die Patrol op n stadium so swaar gelaai deur die vorige eienaar dat iets op die body die knak veroorsaak het .

Sal myne bietjie inspekteur en voel vir knakies

Sterkte en se vir Pierre hy moet ons join op die Patrol forum
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Re: Broke my right lower trailing arm

Post by Abri Hoffman »

Jules, ek sit heel oggend al en dink of dit bo of onder was. Kan nie onthou nie. Dit het egter op twee plekke gebuig. Een bo en een onder. Ek vermoed dus dat dit 'n hou van onder gekry het waar dit gebreuk het en dit toe die knak bo veroorsaak het.

Ek sal vir Pierre se om ons te join, hy het 'n magdom kennis en inligting spesifiek rondom die GQ.
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Re: Broke my right lower trailing arm

Post by Jules »

Pierre was een van die groot redes hoekom ek op Patrol besluit het met sy aanbevelings en raad, het so ruk terug sy ou OME coils by hom oorgeneem toe ek nuwe OME shocks op my Patrol gesit het. Hopelik kom ek Desember bietjie af Kaap toe met my Patrol dan kan ons n paar trails aandurf

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Abri Hoffman
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Re: Broke my right lower trailing arm

Post by Abri Hoffman »

Klink vir my na 'n plan.
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