Repair or replace frame?

[jroth340]

Need some help with this one. I thought that I had a bent leaf spring but on closer inspection it looks like the frame where the shackle connects is bent as well. Can this be fixed by bending back and reinforcing, or use a patch kit like this one? The pics below give an idea of the bend but for some reason make it look a lot worse.

 

[priceg]

The undercoating is enough to worry me. Good frames are cheap and easy to come by.
PARTING OUT 81 CJ5 JEEP
Jody has more Jeep frames than the Virgin Mary

 

[mylittlecj5]

If its a daily driver, I'd just take it to a frame shop and have them bend it back and reinforce it, after checking the frame to make sure that the frame is in otherwise good shape and still straight. Something made that spring and frame bend, did you do it yourself (so you know what happened and can ascertain the damage and effects), or did you buy the Jeep in that condition (and don't know how hard it was driven by the PO)?
If its a trail rig, I'd do the bending and reinforcement myself, but I wouldn't pay for that expensive repair piece (as long as there is no rust in that area of course).

Oh, you will have to replace that spring anyways, so you might as well think about upgrading anyways, if you have any future plans to do so. Have them in hand before it goes to the shop, so they can make sure the repair is correct.

 

[mtnwhlr]

I'm thinking that if that part of the frame is that weak you probley have more and I would look the rest of it real close for rust and cracks. Cracks like to show up around spring mounts and the stearing box mount and then decide what to do.

 

[tarry99]

Need some help with this one. I thought that I had a bent leaf spring but on closer inspection it looks like the frame where the shackle connects is bent as well. Can this be fixed by bending back and reinforcing, or use a patch kit like this one? The pics below give an idea of the bend but for some reason make it look a lot worse.

Jroth,
That front axle took a good hit and first bent your spring and then bent the flange up on the frame...............it can be fixed. That portion of the frame on the inside should have been boxed so that would not allow the spring hanger to bend that easy....if it is boxed there then it just tells you the impact was pretty severe.

If there is no boxing or gusset inside above the hanger I would get it jacked up with the weight off of it ( make sure your jack supports are on both sides of the area) unbolt the spring and apply some heat to that area and bend it back and then box that section of frame............
If it was boxed then I think I would remove the hanger.....you have to drill out the rivets or take a cut off wheel to them. Also the hanger will have a short weld on both sides......once the hangers off then cut the boxed section out and bend your flange down then box it back up & put a new hanger in its place.........make sure you also change the spring.
Jeep Frames are easy to repair just don't get carried away with to much heat. Heating the area that's bent along with allowing the heat to migrate out a few inches is fine........once done cover it up with some old blankets or something heat resistant.......you want it to cool slowly.

 

[BajaEdition]

Jeep now uses fully boxed frames and one upgrade to old frames is to box them in, or box in sections such as this. Looks like someone realy abused that puppy once or twice
If the jeep has little rust just have it repaired and boxed around the shackle area.
I would
If you do go for a new frame, go ahead and get a boxed in one, it will be worth the money

 

[jroth340]

Thanks all! I have gotten a lot of useful info on this forum but this is the first time I've had to post.

I am going to strip the paint on the frame and look for cracks. It is boxed in that area but there is some rust where it is boxed (not on the actual frame), the spring was like that when I bought it so I am not sure how hard of a hit it took. I have the new springs ordered and will end up taking it to a local shop to fix. I'm still working on my welding skills and want to make sure this is done correctly.