Sway bar mount

[aston@ultrasw.c]

Unfortunately, a little off-track excursion bent the RH rear sway bar mount.

I was already using the Wevo mount which has damaged the the sheet metal.

I think the best course of action is to grind off the mount and start over.

Does anyone make a replacement patch panel to reinforce the tub?

I know I can make one, I was just hoping to speed up the repair.

[Flieger]

I would use a factory mount with gussests to spread the load out. That WEVO thing looks way too strong to be welded to sheet metal. It just moves the problem upstream as you have found.

[wayner]

Flieger, this is timely.

I have a pair of Wevo mounts in my box of parts. I was going to install them soon until I read your response.

I have seen some mounts that weld to the torsion tube instead.

What would you do If you still had factory mounts on the car?

[Flieger]

My unreinforced mount broke one day (I think it was passenger side). I had Marco at TLG Automotive weld on a new factory replacement piece (I think it was an earlier piece and not the later SC piece since mine is a '71). Then he added some sheet metal to box it in and also distribute the stress across the sheet metal. The driver side was left stock since the fuel pump mounts there.

[Flieger]

I can't find photos.

I suppose makeing a piece that "boxes" the mount while extending the bent over lip/return that stiffens the mount so that it forms more of a trapezoid would be best. If that makes any sense.

[gtc]

Why not weld some nuts into the chassis and bolt on the factory mounts? That would certainly make them easy to replace each time they subsequently fail.

[aston@ultrasw.c]

Originally Posted by wayner

Flieger, this is timely.

I have a pair of Wevo mounts in my box of parts. I was going to install them soon until I read your response.

I have seen some mounts that weld to the torsion tube instead.

What would you do If you still had factory mounts on the car?

You could use the Wevo mounts but scale back on the welding somewhat. The goal would be to create enough strength to retain the bar but weak enough that the colateral damage is lower.

Something of a SWAG of course....

I'm still kicking myself for damaging them in the first place

[wildcat077]

Interesting post as i was going to weld on some WEVO mounts this Winter.Guess i'll be doing some spot welds rather than a complete surround.

I would much rather the mounts tear off at the welds than my chassis being damaged ...

Cheers !
Phil

[aston@ultrasw.c]

Originally Posted by wildcat077

Interesting post as i was going to weld on some WEVO mounts this Winter.Guess i'll be doing some spot welds rather than a complete surround.

I would much rather the mounts tear off at the welds than my chassis being damaged ...

Cheers !
Phil

Good call - if you can estimate it juuuuust right

[wildcat077]

Originally Posted by wayner

Flieger, this is timely.

I have a pair of Wevo mounts in my box of parts. I was going to install them soon until I read your response.

I have seen some mounts that weld to the torsion tube instead.

What would you do If you still had factory mounts on the car?

Wayner,

If you decide you are not going to use your WEVO mounts i would like to buy them from you ... my OEM mounts have been rewelded too many times !

Cheers !
Phil

[abisel]

Another thing to do no mater what mount or welding you do is to weld in a skid plate from the chassis over the sway bar mount. That way if you do ground out, it will not be torn off.

Something like this and also with a bar stock that would go over the sway bar mounting bracket itself.

[chrismorse]

Here is a link to my recent Wevo bar mount & pump relocation

Replacing rear bar mounts 74 911

My friend with the plasma cutter and a bunch of welding experience suggested drilling a hole in the center of the wevo bracket to spread the load.

He further recommended that you not weld the entire perimeter because this could cause the body metal to tear at that point. Better to run a few tacks.

I received some good advice from Grady to First put some sheet metal on the chasis to reinforce the bar mount location. I chose not to do this because i am not going to track my dad's car, well maybe once or twice.

I was also concerned about building multipul layers of metal in that sensitive, highly loaded area. In particular, i was worried about sealing everything up.

We did use "Weld-Through Primer".

HTH,
chris

[ShakinJoe]

Try using the mounts from Buckley Racing. Over kill perhaps but the last mount you will need.

[aston@ultrasw.c]

Here's an update.

So I removed the Wevos. Not suprisingly the remaining structure was not that great, so I decided to use the Buckley Racing mounts which are welded to the torsion tube and avoid the tub altogether. These mounts are very stout but I added an additional gusset to spread the load on the torsion tube and to provide additional axial strength.

Here are the gussets tack welded in position.



I forgot about the camera until it was all over, so here's the final.





That should do the trick!!

[911pcars]

Hmmm. Maybe a revisit to mounting the sway bar brackets onto the torsion bar tube? Lots stronger. Or a new sway bar mount location that provides minimal exposure to minimum ground clearance.

"Armoring" the factory rear SB mounts sounds similar to installing wheels/skid plates and other add-ons to the front end to avoid scraping.

Sherwood

[ShakinJoe]

Ya think?? Nice job. Like I said this will be the last mount you will need!