Cosmetic or Epidemic??

[Rusty]

Hi guys,

Just noticed some cracks in the metal of the strut tower. Please see pictures and apologies as it is a crap camera. I was wondering if this is cosmetic or something that should be repaired properly.

The picture with the circle shows the area affected but it is the part closest to firewall (could not get good pic).

Weld it up or not overly important? EDIT - Just heard that some insurance companies would write it off. Needs to be re enforced

http://img851.imageshack.us/img851/6535/rimg0843.jpg
http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/8472/upload1x.jpg
http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/8434/upload2h.jpg
http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/5685/upload3d.jpg

[Jarryd F]

Get it welded up and re sealed. It shouldn't cost you that much since you spotted it before its gotten too bad.

[seq4x4]

Itll need to get put on a jig of some sort to make sure their still straight. Then they will weld it up and seal it. No idea on price tho.

[Rusty]

Am i right in presuming that the front wheels have hit something decent causing these cracks or is it a half common issue?

Thanks for the help guys

[seq4x4]

Couldnt tell you really. Its comon on lowered cars without strut braces. If stock height, well i have no idea.

[Rusty]

It is on a ute that is on SL or SSL. Only bought it 6 months ago and am planning on restoring to original height so i can actually load crap in the back tray.

[seq4x4]

Do that then and still buy a strut brace. They do serve a purpose doing that. Not to mention the chassis is slightly stiffer.

[Rusty]

Far out, just spoke to mechanic. He basically said what you guys said, SSL or SL over the years has fked the strut tower. Some insurance companies would class as a write off and to speak to a panel beater to re enforce the towers.

I asked for worst case scenario quote on restoring to original height-

Springs, Bearings, Shocks and bump stops - $1866.40. That is presuming everything needs replacing. Will source parts and look into doing it myself. I wonder if someone with a standard height ute would want to straight swap everything - shocks, springs etc?

Will speak to panel beater about welding up / strengthening the towers and then restore it to a decent height. Plus a sway bar to ensure this hole dilemma doesn't repeat itself.

[Adds_05]

mine has done something similar and i also was told it was from being lowered.
i took mine to a panel beater and they said they could fix up both sides if i wanted for $150 but they said they didnt think it was much to worry about and was more than likely just the glue stuff they use around the tower but im not so sure.
they suggested i just go over it again...

[Rusty]

Cheers for the info. Did they say they would weld it up for $150 or use another method? I would of thought the strut etc would have to come out to get a weld from underneath resulting in a bit of labour costs.

What did you end up doing to yours? Is it still lowered and has your fix held up ok? Also, did you have a strut brace before it cracked?

Thanks again

[Adds_05]

$150 was to weld it up and then just touch up the paint.
as for what have i done to fix it,nothing.
i bought the car like that because silly me forgot to check that part until a few months after i got it so i doubt it had a strut brace on it.
i keep forgetting about fixing it but it hasn't gotten any worse and the cars on super lows.
i got some v6 superlows with it when i bought it (was raised back up for blueslip) so obviously being in a v8,it sat heaps lower and thats what did it in the first place.

[Rusty]

Thanks again for the info mate. Good to hear that it is not getting worse.

Spoke to another mechanic, he claims that it is a fairly common fault as early as the HQ's. Combination of being too low and the extra weight of the v8 never ends well.

Strut Brace ordered - Whiteline (nolethane) for $180. Could get cheaper but I want it yesterday and not in a weeks time. Will then get it welded up and save my bikkies for some standard springs and shocks.

[delcowizzid]

its normal they are only spot welded then sealed with galvseal which you can buy in a corking gun tube and reapply and repaint

[Rusty]

its normal they are only spot welded then sealed with galvseal which you can buy in a corking gun tube and reapply and repaint

Ya learn something new every day! Looks like the whole thing shouldn't be too catastrophic after all. This will end up costing $180 for the brace, hoping $200 max for the welds and repairs and more down the track for springs shocks.

Should i upgrade rear braces /sway bars etc to match the front end? I am unsure as to what to expect with a more rigid front with SL or SSL.

[Rusty]

Brace is on, that was the easy part. Went to a few panel beaters and they send me to smash repairers. Still working on a quote but looks like both strut towers need to come out. New shocks, springs, bearings, bumpstops with the tower repairs will exceed 3k. Not to mention rego in a week. Contemplating retiring the ute to do up un registered and buying a diesel hilux or something crap as an A to B.

[jokerflingo]

Brace is on, that was the easy part. Went to a few panel beaters and they send me to smash repairers. Still working on a quote but looks like both strut towers need to come out. New shocks, springs, bearings, bumpstops with the tower repairs will exceed 3k. Not to mention rego in a week. Contemplating retiring the ute to do up un registered and buying a diesel hilux or something crap as an A to B.

I like ur thinking ive been contemplating a hilux diesel too lol, or a vy ss :P

[Nobody Actually]

Brace is on, that was the easy part. Went to a few panel beaters and they send me to smash repairers. Still working on a quote but looks like both strut towers need to come out. New shocks, springs, bearings, bumpstops with the tower repairs will exceed 3k. Not to mention rego in a week. Contemplating retiring the ute to do up un registered and buying a diesel hilux or something crap as an A to B.

There may be a good chance that the smash repair guys are trying to bend you over. Get a couple more quotes.

[Rusty]

There may be a good chance that the smash repair guys are trying to bend you over. Get a couple more quotes.

Without a doubt! I'm going to get as many quotes as possible but don't want to go for a cheapo as such. Re registered the ute, new springs next week and will see how it holds up with some actual suspension under it.