HELP!!!! can control arms be rewelded?

[diesel freak01]

tow truck driver pulled the control arm out of the frame on my truck!! anybody know if it can be repaired or should i turn it in to insurance and see what happens?

93 drw 2wd cummins auto

thanks for any input

[Richie O]

There insurance co should cover it. Have it fixed right at a frame shop. Don't let them talk you into some back yard welder gob it back together.

[diesel freak01]

but can it be fixed right? im afraid even if it is fixed that it will never be right, im also going to say that they will just total it out, but if they do that i guess i will have some parts to sell!

[burnt_servo]

a body shop that specializes in heavy frame repair should be able to properly repair it .

[diesel freak01]

well the guy that fed it up decided to fix it on his own and its a half@ss gob job, he welded a washer on the conrtol arm bracket straightened the control arms replaced a ball joint that was ripped out and gobbed it back together

[Gunmetal]

Control arms and suspension components should NOT be re-welded!
Unless it is an off-road vehicle like a crawler or mud bogger, and even then it should be considered a temporary fix.

I would not drive a truck on the street that had something like that botched back together. Get an undamaged from a junk yard or from someone with spare parts.

If the truck was in a wreck it may also have microscopic cracks other places that will fatigue and crack when you're driving.

[diesel freak01]

any recomendations on how to get the insurance company to realizze how i feel about this being an unsafe fix? i told the adjuster multiple times today, and all he coudl say was well it seems fixed to me, and i then i pointed to the picture of the control arm bracket being ripped open and told him thats where he welded the washer he said "well i didnt even see that i was looking at the front"

[Gunmetal]

Tell the adjuster it needs replaced. If he allows an unsafe fix and it later breaks causing an accident he can be held criminally responsible.
They are trained to replace critical parts like that no questions asked.
I hate insurance companies!

[burnt_servo]

any recomendations on how to get the insurance company to realizze how i feel about this being an unsafe fix? i told the adjuster multiple times today, and all he coudl say was well it seems fixed to me, and i then i pointed to the picture of the control arm bracket being ripped open and told him thats where he welded the washer he said "well i didnt even see that i was looking at the front"

what government agency there is responsible for vehicle inspections ?

threaten to involve them .

[Richie O]

Look, its real easy. NO FREEKING WAY. I would not accept that. I would call the state police ( if you have inspection stickers ). There is no way that is safe. Tell that little insurance guy you want his boss and right now! When my wife crashed here second car and it was fixable I told the body shop doing the work I would be checking it very carefully for any inperfections. They did a great job. Again,,, NO WAY.

[gear jammer 91"]

I would also get your insurance company involved. You pay them good money every month and, they wouldn't want you on the road in something that wasn't safe.

[diesel freak01]

well the insurance adjuster is the one that inspected it yesterday and said everything was fine but HE DIDNT EVEN LOOK AT WHERE THE WASHER WAS WELDED!!!! i have it going to another shop today one that i trust to give a second opinion. so will see where it goes! thanks for all inoput guys!!!

[lazyjoe]

Your state insurance commissioner is who you need to get a hold of. Or at least tell them that's who you are calling. Insurance companies, DO NOT, like to get them involved. Because then they can see how they do business.

Joe

[diesel freak01]

if things go bad today with the second estimate i am going to call the better business beruea, and the attorney generals office. might hafta try the insurance thing though

[PToombs]

If you get somebody that looks at it, (like the attorney generals office) that doesn't know what they are looking at, have them look at the other side to compare. Tell them that "this component holds the truck up and controls where it goes when your wife and kids drive by it".