WARNING-GU Spring tower welds

Submitted: Thursday, Sep 30, 2004 at 19:50

ThreadID: 16684 Views:2651 Replies:5 FollowUps:3

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Member - AndrewPatrol

Talking to guy at Birdsville servo/fix-it place about probs with various models of 4wd (especially mine). He talked about cracking rear spring towers on heavily used and sprung Patrols. Showed me his reinforced unit and where to look etc. Didn't think mine could possibly be abused!!!!!!!!!!! so I didn't check 'till Tibbooburra. Shock horror-- cracked . look closer, rub eyes, pinch myself, lick finger, rub dirt off. Still cracked. WTF.
The spring tower on left side of car is not even welded to chassis. Could see daylight through join!!!! Luckily the reinfocing piece of metal wasn't cracked all the way thru YET. Have made it home and off to Nissan tomorrow-wish me luck.

Place to check is where the top tower is joined (?) to chassis on front side of vehicle, inside of chassis, verticle weld above reinforcing.

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Reply By: Member - AndrewPatrol - Thursday, Sep 30, 2004 at 20:32

Thursday, Sep 30, 2004 at 20:32

Forgot to emphasize that this is an obviously dodgy welding job from NEW.

AnswerID: 78402

Follow Up By: locallaw - Thursday, Sep 30, 2004 at 20:40

Thursday, Sep 30, 2004 at 20:40

Gidday,I have heard of this happening before.Do a search thru the archives and you might find something.
Seeya Locallaw

FollowupID: 337942

Reply By: sean - Friday, Oct 01, 2004 at 06:06

Friday, Oct 01, 2004 at 06:06

Andrew

Good and interesting post. what year model is your GU

thanks

Sean

AnswerID: 78432

Follow Up By: Member - AndrewPatrol - Friday, Oct 01, 2004 at 08:27

Friday, Oct 01, 2004 at 08:27

2002, This was posted as a warning for people to go and check their cars b4 something happens. It looks to me like the robot had a bad day.

FollowupID: 337987

Reply By: Mick - Friday, Oct 01, 2004 at 10:33

Friday, Oct 01, 2004 at 10:33

Drunk robots, drinking too much saki wine!

AnswerID: 78472

Reply By: sumpo - Monday, Oct 04, 2004 at 13:13

Monday, Oct 04, 2004 at 13:13

Hi, This is a common problem both with wagons & cab chasis.I strenghened mine from the start while everything was new. A brace between the towers ( in the case of cab/chasis ) has fixed the weekness. The welds didn't break in the ute I saw, but rather the steel just cracked away from the corners closest to the chasis rail.
Naturally, heavier springs & air bags etc. puts more strain on these towers.

AnswerID: 78767

Follow Up By: Member - AndrewPatrol - Monday, Oct 04, 2004 at 17:20

Monday, Oct 04, 2004 at 17:20

Yeh I knew about the problem (in Nissans) beforehand too and have heard about the reinforcing people do as well. I have been to check the weld again and it is definately dodgy. I've done a little welding in my time and this is one of those where the penetration is almost totally to one side and the bead has taken to the steel on one side more than the other. When stressed this type fractures by peeling away from the other side quite cleanly due to the almost total lack of penetration. The parent metal under the fracture is still intact and not cracked at all. If you work for Nissan can you please come and have a look then things might get moving a bit quicker on the claim front!!!(ha ha)
BTW is there a way to reinforce the towers on a wagon without taking off the body that you know of?

FollowupID: 338235