TIL my old shop's 'just weld it' fix for a cracked frame rail was a bad call

I chose to section in a new piece instead on this Tacoma, and it passed the insurance adjuster's inspection in Phoenix with zero notes. Anyone else had to make a call like that on a structural repair?

4 comments

4 Comments

seth_singh209d ago

That's the only way to do it right. Seen too many hack jobs where a quick weld just cracks again in six months. Sectioning in new metal is more work, but it actually fixes the problem. Good on you for doing it proper, especially with insurance involved. They would have torn apart a half-assed weld.

-1

quinna899d ago

Exactly, and it's not just about the weld holding. When you cut out the bad metal and put in a new piece, you're fixing the structure back to how it was meant to be. A quick weld over a crack just puts a band-aid on a broken bone, you know? The stress has to go somewhere, so it just finds the next weak spot. Doing it the right way might take an extra day, but you never have to worry about it again. That's the real difference between a repair and a replacement.

seth_shah4d ago

What's the hardest part of the fit-up when you're putting in a new section?

lee8479d ago

How much extra time does sectioning usually add?