Busted rear shock mount

[Slooptin]

In the process of swapping springs/shocks on my suburban and discovered the rear shock mount broken (see pics). My first thought is to break out the die grinder and welder and just weld it back together. Anyone have any thoughts or other options? I’d like to avoid pulling the body off the frame just for a shock mount

 

[Edelbrock]

You could drill holes on either side of the break and bolt a plate (with a hole in the center) to you existing shock mount. Or just weld that missing tab back in place. Why would you need to pull the body to weld that? If you can take that picture, you should be able to get a stick welder in there.

NOTE: If you do weld it, make sure your fuel tank is absolutely 100% Full including the fill tube if possible, and weld it outside. Liquid gasoline is not flammable, so make sure there is no room in the fuel tank for gasoline vapors.

 

[idahovette]

^^^^^^^Since when is liquid gasoline NOT flammable?????^^^^^^^^^^

 

[Zelph]

Since forever. It’s the vapors that burn.

I would do the suggestion above with welding it.

Use a support washer like this

Repair Weld Washer 5/8"

Repair Weld Washers are intended to repair, and reinforce damaged or deformed mounting holes in bracketry. Drill out the damaged hole to fit the selected weld washer, insert, and weld in place. Manufactured from 1018 steel, ships bare, and ready to weld. Mig, tig, and stick weld compatible...

barnes4wd.com

And a brace from off-road design

Rear Shock Brace Kit for '73-91 K5 Blazer/Jimmy and '73-87 K10 and K20 Pickup

73-'87 ('91) Chevy Rear Shock Brace, Fits 1/2T and 3/4T Trucks and Blazers Only, Does Not Fit K30's or Suburbans. One kit covers one truck.

www.offroaddesign.com

 

[Edelbrock]

Liquid gasoline does not burn. It's not flammable. It has to be vaporized and mixed with oxygen - then the vapors are highly flammable. So you you have no fumes, you have no fire. Hence the full fuel tank.

 

[Girth]

If it were me? I wouldn't just try to weld what's there back together. Probably just break again. At least put a plate over it. Dill the hole in your reinforcement, grind that old surface clean, pop a bolt in there to keep it lined up.... and go to town. Might need a longer shock bolt?

 

[idahovette]

Where do you think the Effin vapor comes from??? If you don't have the liquid you sure as he11 DON'T HAVE THE VAPOR

 

[Slooptin]

You could drill holes on either side of the break and bolt a plate (with a hole in the center) to you existing shock mount. Or just weld that missing tab back in place. Why would you need to pull the body to weld that? If you can take that picture, you should be able to get a stick welder in there.

NOTE: If you do weld it, make sure your fuel tank is absolutely 100% Full including the fill tube if possible, and weld it outside. Liquid gasoline is not flammable, so make sure there is no room in the fuel tank for gasoline vapors.

Yeah I’ve got a welding blanket and some magnets to go between the tank too. Was worried about pulling the body to get a good bevel on both sides of where I would weld and I can’t reach the back side so I’ll probably bevel just one side.

Since forever. It’s the vapors that burn.

I would do the suggestion above with welding it.

Use a support washer like this

Repair Weld Washer 5/8"

Repair Weld Washers are intended to repair, and reinforce damaged or deformed mounting holes in bracketry. Drill out the damaged hole to fit the selected weld washer, insert, and weld in place. Manufactured from 1018 steel, ships bare, and ready to weld. Mig, tig, and stick weld compatible...

barnes4wd.com

And a brace from off-road design

Rear Shock Brace Kit for '73-91 K5 Blazer/Jimmy and '73-87 K10 and K20 Pickup

73-'87 ('91) Chevy Rear Shock Brace, Fits 1/2T and 3/4T Trucks and Blazers Only, Does Not Fit K30's or Suburbans. One kit covers one truck.

www.offroaddesign.com

Good call on the washer. I’ve got some scrap steel sitting around I’ll probably make one from. And I looked into that but it says just trucks and blazers, no suburbans

 

[PrairieDrifter]

Where do you think the Effin vapor comes from??? If you don't have the liquid you sure as he11 DON'T HAVE THE VAPOR

Throw a lit cigarette or match into a bucket of gas, it'll put the fire out. And not start the gas on fire. Strangest thing.

Unless fully cleaning the tank out with water, there will be gas vapors left, which WILL explode.

 

[Edelbrock]

Throw a lit cigarette or match into a bucket of gas, it'll put the fire out. And not start the gas on fire. Strangest thing.

Unless fully cleaning the tank out with water, there will be gas vapors left, which WILL explode.

You are 100% correct about the cigarette thing. Gas just doesn't burn in a liquid state.

As for the water thing, you are correct as well. But its needs REALLY good cleaning. Gotta be careful. I was trying to repair a plastic ATV fuel tank once. I needed to heat up the threaded area where the fuel cap screwed onto, so I could re-form it to get the cap to seal. I removed the tank form the quad, drained the fuel, and rinsed it like 20 times. Put some water in, shake it around and drain, repeat, repeat, repeat, etc.

Put the torch up to the fuel tank cap area to heat the plastic and BOOM! Next thing I know I'm laying on my back on the garage floor wondering where that burn hair smell was coming from.

Filing the fuel tank all the way up with a liquid is the best way to go. Fuel, water, whatever. Just gotta get rid of those fumes.

If you take a metal fuel can, remove the cap, fill it all the way up with fuel and then light it - you don't have a bomb. You have a petroleum lamp. But with only a small amount of fuel in the bottom of the can - light it and you will smell burnt hair - if you are lucky.

I learned a lot about fuel and fire over the years. (profile pic was not chosen by accident).