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Ripped Out Control Arms Fix  
nosigma nosigma
New User | Posts: 6 | Joined: 07/07
Posted: 07/10/07
08:42 PM

This happened to a buddy while we were towing him up hill with two rigs in tandem at night after a rear diff failure and what we thought was an balky front ARB but turned out to be a broken front chromo outer that failed silently inside the unit bearing.  Outer looked like it had been cut in a shear.

The Damage:
Hub bearing separates, wheel falls off, axle hits the rocks gets stuck and the Jeep kept on going ripping off the control arm mounts and brake line on one side and destroying both the upper and lower control arms on one side while the Jeep drove over its own axle leaving it at a 45 degree angle to the rig.  Control arms on the other side are bent but still attached.  Track bar was bent and steering gear bent but usable.

The Fix:
Jack up the rig on the side with the damage until the chassis is level.
Use a ratchet strap to compress the spring and lift the axle a close to ride height a possible
Winch or otherwise pull the axle back into position.
Use multiple wraps with 1000lb or better ratchet straps to from a rear control arm keeping the axle from moving forward.  Do the same from a point in front of the axle to form a front control arm that keeps the axle from moving backwards.
Put in the spare axle shafts and hub bearings.
Put a cap on the brake line (available at NAPA, AutoZone etc)
Attach wheel.
Add brake fluid and bleed the one good caliper.
Tow

When we got to good wrenching spot we removed the axle, control arms and straightened the mounts.  We then installed an entire new axle assembly with control arms, steering linkage and track bar that someone else drove out and brought in (200mi round trip).
The owner then drove home 180mi on front wheel drive.  


 
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