Hey all, new to the forum and just bought an '86 F250 XL with the 351w. Unfortunately off to a bad start already. This is probably going to be long but the short of it is my front shock broke and the mount came loose and now the frame is cracked. The truck made a 40+ mile drive home at 60-65mph but not without issue. I got a few miles from home and the truck started shaking/bouncing. Took the next exit and pulled into a parking lot. Obviously figured something was wrong with the suspension so my Dad and I started looking around under the truck. First thing we noticed was oil all over, dripping off everything. We thought it was the motor originally but didn't see anything right away. Asked my Dad to drive it around the lot to see if he could feel the shaking. He drove past me and I see something fall off the truck. Turned out to be the shock inside the mount/bracket that bolts into the frame. The shock broke at the bottom and is still bolted into the lower mount. All the shock oil leaked out the hole in the bottom of it. I figured I could just get new shocks and bolt the bracket back in but I was out there today and here's what I saw after a closer look.


Is it fixable? What can/should I do? Thanks for any input.

 

Just about anything is fixable. Can you weld, or know of a reliable shop that can heat the affected area, get the cracked area back in line (flush) and weld plates to reinforce the area? Longer mount bolts can be used to compensate for the plate(s) thickness.

 

BTW....Welcome to FTE !

 

Thank you! I'm no welder and I don't know any shops off hand. What kind of shop would do this kind of work and how much do you estimate it would cost? How bad is the crack? Is the truck driveable or should I keep it off the road till it's fixed?

 

Welcome to the forum.
Easy fix as WhatsAChevy said. Look for a welding shop nearby and if you have more than 1 check with both on how much it would run. You can drive it to them so they can see what you need to have fixed but I don’t think I would drive it all over the place till it is fixed.


Why not drive it? If you hit a bump the truck will bounce and you could lose control.


As for the fix I would grind out the crack, "V" it, then fill it in with weld and grind flush. Then if you can get to the back side weld in a plate and longer grade 8 bolts as said to bolt the bracket back in.


Before you take the truck to the welder buy 2 new shocks for the front. You can replace the other still on the truck and let the welder install the one he is working on. I would also replace the 2 rear ones too.


BTW I broke a duel front shock off the axle housing of a 86 K5 Blazer shortly after I bought it new. Local welder did it up stronger than factory. I also had a rear frame shock mount break 2 times on the same side. I was lucky it was a bolt in mount and I had it from a shock mount kit.
Dave ----

 

Sounds like a plan. I'm looking around for welding shops now, thanks guys.

 

A good weldor will stop drill those cracks before grinding them open, assuring 100% penetration.