is it possible for the engine bay to be cracking?

[jeffreymui]

ok here is the situation, i got N+ dampers installed in my car for 2 days, havnt drive much and obviously my car had a front end accident from previous owner, u can see the weld marks on the side, anyway here is the problem, the welding bit is starting to crack, could it be my suspenion is too hard for the shit weld repair job?

[joyride]

without knowing what setting the dampers are at, and not knowing what type of weld was done, i would say yes to both.

[jeffreymui]

can the panel beater fix this problem? im only running 5 clicks for the front where the max is 15 clicks

[vinnY]

might be able to weld it up
i'd try and find out the cause though
no point patching it up if it's just gonna crack again

[jeffreymui]

i see thanks, now i just used some primer spray to spray on that crack and drive it for a few days see if the crack extends

[gumus89]

Was it the previous owner or the one before that(or even further back) that got the repair done?

Unfortunately you will have to go back to the very person who did the repairs, even if the car has passed through 5 peoples hands since. Dont know how successful that will be.

[jeffreymui]

ahhh, thats gay, pretty hard to find them

[OMG.JAI xD]

Correct me if im wrong.

If an accident is that extensive to a point where its damaged the chassis rail, it is considered a write off. Its dangerous to start welding the chassis rail. I think when work like that is carried out, plates are needed to reinforce the damaged components.

Hence the reason why radiator supports are replaced not repaired. (i mean unless its a small ding).

The stiffer body reinforcements are, the more strain it has on the chassis.
Id be guessing that it was there before u installed the coilovers. Just probably made it more noticeable.

[jeffreymui]

i see thanks for ur info OMG.JAI, from what i searched it wasnt a write off, i suspect maybe it was there before i did the coils aswell, but lets hope that was the reason><

[JohnL]

Correct me if im wrong.

The stiffer body reinforcements are, the more strain it has on the chassis.


Not necessarily, it depends on how the repair has been designed.

[JohnL]

i see thanks, now i just used some primer spray to spray on that crack and drive it for a few days see if the crack extends

Find the very end of the crack and centre punch it. Now drill a hole (5 or 6mm) so that you are drilling out the end of the crack so that the crack now finishes in the newly drilled hole rather than in the end of a crack (if you follow my meaning).

This helps to stop the crack from getting longer because the end of the crack is itself a 'stress riser' that encourages the crack to get longer. I think you'll still want to reinforce the chassis because the existing cracking will most probably affect stiffness, but the crack should be drilled in this manner whether or not reinforcing metal is welded in.

Ford Cortinas (the 6 cylinder models, not the 4 cylinder) often cracked their chassis rails (too much torque and engine weight, not enough chassis rail), and drilling the cracks' was the factory recommended 'repair'.