Mounts for UCA's snapped off the frame. Screwed? | Ford Explorer Forums

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Mounts for UCA's snapped off the frame. Screwed?

Eric1249

Well-Known Member
Joined
October 6, 2011
Messages
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City, State
Waukesha WI
Year, Model & Trim Level
2004 Explorer
I have a 2004 Explorer. I have had a BTF spacer lift for awhile. A few weeks ago I added the BTF UCA's. Felt solid for a week. Then it stated getting sloppy and there was a clunk when I turned. I looked but I didn't see anything obvious. Yesterday I stated my truck and there was a weird vibration. And it was all over the road. So when I looked into the left wheel well it was obvious. The mount that goes from the sides of the UCA goes to the frame was snapped off. It this something that can be fixed or am I screwed?
 

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Is there any way you could add some more pictures. I'm having a hard time seeing the issue.
 






So the two red boxes used to be joined. The red line connects the parts that sheered.
At best, you could have someone weld on a piece here. I think it's doable. Don't know how structurally sound the new piece will be. Or what may have to come off for a welder to do it right. As well, if it's not leveled properly, you may never get it aligned again.

UCA_zps1657beaa.jpg
 






I have it at a friends shop. He is welding some plates to it. He is confident it will be ok. The left said was almost off completely. Once on the lift we could see the right side was coming apart as well.
 






That'd be cool. Just try to figure out what caused them to fail in the first place.
 






Do you suspect it was due to your spacers?
 






I haven't seen this issue on a 3rd Gen explorer yet, but we see a lot of uca mounts break off on 99-present rangers and have seen older toyotas with the cross-shafts (similar to the explorer setup) do what yours have done. I'd take a look at the pieces to see if there is any existing rust in the cracks to see if it was something that was happening over time, or if it's something that happened all at once.
It is possible that the lift could contribute to this problem, since there's more angle on the uca's there will be more upward force exerted on the arm mounts as the suspension moves. But I do have a feeling that this is something that happens over time, especially in areas where rust / road salt is a big issue. This is a good warning to others, especially with a lift kit to keep an eye on things and check for cracks so you can catch the issue before it gets out of hand.
If your friend is a good welder, I don't see any problem with what you're doing.
 






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