Why I replaced my Crossmember ...
 

Hey Guys, I finally got around to taking pics of my broken xmember that I changed after driving over an island in the road ...

I had to replace it because of the freaky cracks I found ...

http://www.pelicanparts.com/ultimate...s/xmember1.jpg
http://www.pelicanparts.com/ultimate...s/xmember2.jpg
http://www.pelicanparts.com/ultimate...s/xmember3.jpg
http://www.pelicanparts.com/ultimate...s/xmember4.jpg

Scary, no?

And here's the steering knuckle connecting rod that I replaced as well to get rid of the freeplay in my steering wheel ...




[This message has been edited by Ehab (edited 09-12-2001).]

the broken end ...
http://www.pelicanparts.com/ultimate...ds/conrod1.JPG

and the functional replacement ...
http://www.pelicanparts.com/ultimate...ds/conrod2.JPG

It is nice and tight now ...

How was the labor time? I am pulling my motor shortly and thats a big step in the procedure. I am wating for a rebuild kit for Ingersoll Impact Gun before I go after those bolts on the cross member.

The labor was about 3 days total, but only becuase I got stuck with the motor mount alignment, which took me an extra 5 hours to realize I had a bolt that was too short.

The xmemeber to body bolts are 62 foot-pounds of torque, and it was not difficult to take them out at all. It took me about 5 hours to get the xmember off, after taking off the steering rack, A-arm to xmember bolts, and the motor mount bolts. Putting it back in is what took the longest time (broken steering rack bolt in new xmember, motor mount alignment into place) ...

good luck.

Hey Ehab, did you ever get that broken bolt out?

AFJuvat

AF, I tried for two whole days, and managed to drill in about 10 mm into the broken bolt, but then got stuck, and couldn't go any further. The screw extractor obviously needed a hole all the way through in order to thread into the broken bolt, so I really didn't get anywhere, except for a 1cm long, 5/32" in diamter. I had the original steel drill bit, a carbide bit (that broke soon after because it was so brittle), and a titanium bit ...

It might be that the drill I was using was not strong enough (DeWalt, portable battery-operated), so when I have the time, I might try with a stronger electric one.

Do you have any thoughts?
Thanks.

I would try again with a carbide or titanium bit with a regular drill. - You might have better luck starting with a smaller bit and then working up to the size you need.

Lots of luck!

AFJuvat