Strut Tower Carnage!

[Atrox Caeda]

So I go out shooting yesterday, nothing out of the ordinary for my rig, some backroads out in the middle of wine country AZ and my buddy asks why my truck has a lean to it. I then notice my steering is a little off. Tracking straight and the wheel is turned right just a bit. So I go to investigate. Low and behold...



So now I'm trying to think of the best option.

1) Hammer it back together (tried this and it seemed like a bad idea once I started) and weld it up adding some braces and gussets.

2) Cut it out and replace with a fabricated piece.

3) Cut it out and replace with someones FREE SAS leftovers (ANYONE???)

4) Insurance claim it out since I have full coverage.

Input is welcome.

 

[shifting gears and]

I live in tucson as well and had the same problem with a lifted dodge. I had the insurance company total the truck and then I bought it back from the same company for pennies on the dollar. I repaired the shock tower and went to the dmv and got a salvage title for the truck and drove it for another 10 years before I sold it. The same truck is still in Tucson and driving straight. Bend it back, gussett it and weld away.

 

[snivilous]

I would just weld it, brace it too if it was me but that's probably not necessary. It would be a 30 minute fix if you got fancy with it.

 

[mphudak]

I would say straighten/gusset then look for someones SAS leftovers if it doesnt' turn out right. Seeing that happend on one side, the other may need to be reinforced before it happens.

Insurance would total it, you need to know your states laws on repairing totaled/salvaged vehicle before you go that route. You could wind up with a vehicle you legally can't repair, as some states require license to repair salvaged vehicles.

 

[Atrox Caeda]

Yea... after using a hammer for a while I got it to somewhat resemble the original part. I also had a buddy cut me out a CNC plate to weld in place and make it a bit more reinforced.

 

[Joelev]

Looks straight to me!

 

[BlackWorksInc]

I'd weld it back up nice and tight and maybe even look into some strut tower gussets, there's quite a few companies that sell them where you just pop them over the existing tower and weld them in; its probably gonna happen again if you're wheelin' it hard enough to crack the struts.

 

[D Farms]

you should weld thick strips between the side and top of the bucket. you might as well do the same on the other side as well. what spring rate are your coilovers?