horchoha wrote:
Hey Bruce
Was just browsing through the build logs, and scratching, and looking at pictures. There was one thing in a picture on your build log that hit me in the face.
Now I'm no engineer, and I don't use no mathematical formulas to figure tensile strength in tension or compression, or fatigue, or span and track, but I do have "spidy senses" that appear once in a while.
Don't look at this as critiquing but as maybe as a way of improving on the build,......... enough said.
I see this as a very critical weak point.
Attachment:
LCApic1.jpg
I would suggest plating this top and bottom to strengthen the LBJ at this junction, letting me be able to sleep at night.
Attachment:
LCApic2.jpg
Again I am no expert on this, but I do have "spidy senses", and they have saved my butt a few times.
I concur, in fact the gusseting should tie into the lower shock mount.
The shock mount should sit on top of the plating that sits on top of the arm.
This way most of the weight bearing welds of the lower shock mount are eliminated.
I would slot/fork the plate so it wraps around the LBJ stub to get a second purchase on the LBJ (on top of the LBJ to tube connection).
Then a smaller gusset under the arm, in the same fashion. This will triple the hold of the arm to the LBJ.
Another thing I notice is the angle of the LBJ.
If the chassis is at ride height the joint is already past the center of travel.
It appears the lower ball joint is a tie rod end threaded into a spud, is it possible that the spud has already moved on the end of the arm?
This will become a problem when as the suspension is compressed the joint may reach the end of its range of motion and be damaged or bind the suspension.