Thread: Aluminum cradles FTL

Pictures say it all. Stress fracture (no impact did this):

Well, I guess I'll be happy now I didnt get my hands on that aluminum cradle after all.

Originally Posted by SyntheticShield

Well, I guess I'll be happy now I didnt get my hands on that aluminum cradle after all.

Yeah. I thought about getting a steel cradle to replace it, but I've got some tricks up my sleeve to get this one back up to specs. Just gotta make it last until this weekend. I have a feeling it's been like this for a little while, so it should make it.

Interesting!! I've never been a fan of aluminum frame parts, but I haven't heard of a cradle cracking. Sorry for your luck!!

Street Wolf, You got an idea?

What I'm going to do is put a couple heavy bolts/nuts up through that pointto hold it back together until I can get it welded.

Though, if I do decide to swap it out, I'll sell it.

Hmmmm, Id like to have one so I could see if the weak points could be addressed in some way, but Im sure welding would probably be the way to go, but I also think a combination of welding and bolts would be best.

I just hope that thing doesnt rip all along that weld or you could have complete separation.

Originally Posted by SyntheticShield

I just hope that thing doesnt rip all along that weld or you could have complete separation.

That's my main concern until I can tend to it. I'm reassured because I think it's been like this for some time. It explains a weird "tapping" I've felt through the car when idling at a certain angle. And when I normally work under the car I jack it up by the cradle. That would hide this from view since it would close it back up.

Just slap on some 200mph duct tape and she's good as new

You can kind of look at two ways really. One is that is was a faulty weld, which can be repaired "somewhat" easily. Or the second that it could have been worse. ie a bend in the aluminum and then you are really out of luck I heard of stories with the 04+'s having bent cradles, but not much with the welds going out like that.

Glad you caught it before it could have potentially gotten worse!

how did you come to find this?

kinda makes me want to check the one over again in the 2001.

Scotty- missed it by that much. lol. Quote from get smart.

Well honestly, I would have bought the cradle anyway. I may not have been happy to see what Sabre experienced, I would have gotten over it and sought out a solution. I kinda like to see issues like this because they offer the chance to solve something that may be beneficial to the whole community, but just the same, you dont want to see anything like this cause it can just be a pain and show up at a time you may not have the resources to deal with it.

Originally Posted by GeddyLee

You can kind of look at two ways really. One is that is was a faulty weld, which can be repaired "somewhat" easily. Or the second that it could have been worse. ie a bend in the aluminum and then you are really out of luck I heard of stories with the 04+'s having bent cradles, but not much with the welds going out like that.

I was just talking to a full certified mechanic in Canada who does a lot of work on w-bodies. He's seen this in the exact same spot three times before on Imps/Montes with aluminum cradles. He suggested tig welding and it has worked well for him in the past. His caution was to unplug the BCM and PCM to prevent them from receiving possible damage.

Originally Posted by UR LOSN

how did you come to find this?

I was doing a combination of things, using a chassis lift. One project was putting on thread locker to my cradle bolts as I suspected them being slightly loose again (though, my suspicions could be explained by this crack). I normally jack the car up by the cradle, so I wouldn't normally see this. But, with that crack just over eye level to me on the lift, it was painfully obvious.

To remove the bolts for thread locker, I was using a transmission jack braced under each corner as I prepared to remove that bolt. When I put the jack under that corner, I watched the crack close up. I will repeat this to close it up and drill through for my bolts.

Just got the bolts today. Grade 8 3/8" bolts. Combined tensile strength over 25k lbs, and shear strength near 20k lbs. Oversized washers to spread the load out over the aluminum.

Please take pics so we can see what you did if you dont mind.

Originally Posted by SyntheticShield

Please take pics so we can see what you did if you dont mind.

Of course.

well, where are the pics? you had allllll night!! LOL!!!! j/k

I was going to do it today. I forgot it was Veteran's day and the auto shop is closed. Funny how someone in the military would forget it's Veteran's day... oh yeah I had to work. That's why.

Stupid exercise. If I get off work in time tomorrow I'm going to town with a dremel and drill.

nothing like a dremel!

Didn't get off work in time. Here's hoping for tomorrow... All I need is an hour tops.