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Post by Ari Bezuidenhout on Jan 25, 2010 9:57:47 GMT 2
We went to a farm near Warmbaths this weekend and while driving on a bad corrigated dirt road I noticed the front right wheel seemed to be vibrating/bouncing a lot. After arriving at the farm I had a look and found that the horizontal plating where the shock absorber bolts onto the body had torn out. The guy on the farm tried to weld it back on but after about 2 km it had broken loose again. Any ideas on how to strengthen it permanently as well as the left side while I'm busy?? Thanks Ari
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Post by danie on Jan 25, 2010 18:26:02 GMT 2
Ari, I never experienced a similar problem - hopefully somebody else could help or give advice.
I am not sure if Hercules does welding as well.
As far as welding on a Lada is concerned - this issue has once been discussed on the Lada UK forum, and the advice was to disconnect all wires from the Battery, as well as the Altenator, before any welding gets done :
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Hercules
Veteran Niva Petrol Head
Lada - your peace of mind to take on the world's vast landscapes.
Posts: 785
Location: Gauteng
Town: Benoni
Registered: Oct 2, 2009 11:55:41 GMT 2
Karma: Exalt | Smite
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Post by Hercules on Jan 25, 2010 20:41:26 GMT 2
The front top shock brackets is known to be a very weak point on the Lada. I broke both mine a month apart last year on our excelant tar roads calling the N12 Highway. Similar problems were expierence about 3years ago by 5 Lada's touring Angola. 2 off them broke both and 2 broke one bracket. Only one Lada return with no breaks. But dont feel bad, with them were a couple of Land Rovers who broke shocks and a Cruiser braking a propshaft.
To repair the brackets, is very easy. All you need is a piece of 50x5mm flatbar cut to the size that will fit in between the 2x vertical stifner plates of the shock brackets. Measure the position of the hole where the shock mount through, and drill it in the flat bar. Remove the shocks from the vehicle fit the flat bar in the place where the original plates broke out and weld it on top and bottom to the chassis and the two vertical plates. Paint the brackets to stop rust and fit the shocks with their mounting rubbers.
Just make sure not to burn any wires or brake lines during the welding process.
Regards.
Hercules.
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Post by Ari Bezuidenhout on Jan 25, 2010 21:27:23 GMT 2
I did disconect the battery and the earth was nearby but did not know about the alternator.
Thanks Hercules your method sounds good to me but I was thinking along the lines of using 2 pieces of angle iron to strengthen it on the side of the chassis, welding the 2 pieces together to make a T and weld the top of the T to the chassis , with a hole in the vertical part to take the shockabsorber . Turning the T on its side
Ari
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sakkie
New Niva Petrol Head
Posts: 16
Registered: Sept 26, 2009 14:18:23 GMT 2
Karma: Exalt | Smite
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Post by sakkie on Jan 27, 2010 7:47:55 GMT 2
Same happened to me, just welded a piece of base plate with a hole for the shock in.
Also, both of the bottom brackets broke. Made two new one's and bolt it in.
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Post by danie on Jan 27, 2010 18:11:57 GMT 2
Sakkie, I remembered the pics on your website about the welding on the bottom brackets - if you don't mind, I think it could be helpful to other members if I paste the link here : sakkie.0fees.net/projects.htmlRegards Danie
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Post by Ari Bezuidenhout on Jan 27, 2010 20:25:11 GMT 2
Thanks Danie and Sakkie
I had a look at that site and will have a go at fixing it this weekend. Will let you guys know how it goes.
Thanks
Ari
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Post by danie on Jan 30, 2010 9:41:54 GMT 2
Ari, a couple of pics about your bracket mod. will be very welcome.
Regards
Danie
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Post by Ari Bezuidenhout on Feb 1, 2010 20:41:56 GMT 2
Sorry guys but I havent got that far as on saterday I stood on a nail and have been laid up. Will try for this weekend though
Regards Ari
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Post by hotstuff on Feb 1, 2010 20:56:58 GMT 2
HI ARI I HAVE A SMALL MAN UAL ON SETTING UP AND STRENGHTHENING PARTS ON LADAS WICH THEY USED FOR THE DAKAR WILL POST LATER OK
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Post by Ari Bezuidenhout on Feb 2, 2010 18:44:57 GMT 2
Cool Mike
That will be great
Ari
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Post by Ari Bezuidenhout on Feb 8, 2010 19:10:19 GMT 2
Hi HI ARI I HAVE A SMALL MAN UAL ON SETTING UP AND STRENGHTHENING PARTS ON LADAS WICH THEY USED FOR THE DAKAR WILL POST LATER OK I am still waiting to see this manuel of Mike's as it should be helpful when fixing the mounting. I now have to buy 2 new front shockabsorbers as the right ones rubber fitting is to damaged to reuse the shockabsorber. I saw a lift kit of 35mm for the Niva offered by Ironman Suspension which I have been looking at and thought that in for a penny in for a pound. My Conti tyres sometimes touch the wheel arches when sideways in a bump so this will sort that out also, will try to get a pricing tomorrow. Regards Ari
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Post by danie on Feb 8, 2010 19:42:37 GMT 2
Hi Ari
Full details about the Ironman lift kit should be very interesting.
If you decide to install the kit, please forward some pics, if possible.
Regards
Danie
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Post by Ari Bezuidenhout on Feb 8, 2010 19:56:22 GMT 2
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Post by danie on Feb 8, 2010 20:14:37 GMT 2
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Post by marius on Feb 8, 2010 20:31:20 GMT 2
Hi Ari I have the PDF Mike mentioned. VERY USEFUL! Not sure how to post attachments though The Niva does not like corrigated dirt roads at all - SWB - so it tends jump around a bit. Regards Marius
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Post by Ari Bezuidenhout on Feb 9, 2010 18:23:40 GMT 2
Hi Marius
Instead of posting it could you email it to me at aribezuidenhout@gmail.com please.
I found out today that Ironman is Australian therefore the lift kit comes from Aus and the coils have to be imported and that it takes -+ 3 months and that you need to put in longer shocks as well. they use procomp shocks @ R1000 each coils @ R1100 each (includes importing and taxes) installation + labour @ R1500 total = -+R10 000 These are only estimates it could vary from agent to agent!!
You also need 2 ball joint spacers for the front wishbones.
As this is an Aus kit maybe Bobbyd can give us some feed back on how the kit is working in Aus and whether it is successful.
Regards Ari
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Post by hotstuff on Feb 10, 2010 9:27:37 GMT 2
hi ari the pdf file is really big gonna try and find a link ok or otherwise i can email to you
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Post by hotstuff on Feb 10, 2010 9:32:08 GMT 2
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Post by Ari Bezuidenhout on Feb 10, 2010 19:21:32 GMT 2
Thanks a lot Mike I had a look at it and it looks quite good, will print appropriate page and take with tomorrow to be fixed
Ari
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Post by danie on Feb 11, 2010 19:03:47 GMT 2
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Post by hotstuff on Feb 12, 2010 7:52:33 GMT 2
good luck and enjoy
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Post by Ari Bezuidenhout on Feb 12, 2010 20:37:59 GMT 2
I will be getting my lada back on saterday or monday and will try to give you guys some pics.
Regards Ari
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Post by Ari Bezuidenhout on Feb 23, 2010 20:43:03 GMT 2
Hi guys
Sorry that it took a while to give an update. It is fixed and my little beauty has been running all last week and this week so far with no problems. Unfortunately no pics though.
Regards Ari
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Post by hotstuff on Feb 24, 2010 16:01:23 GMT 2
i'm glad you are up and running. did you do any mods. i'm gonna start with skid plate mods for sand driving soon. custom fitted by myself. i will be making templetes so any one intrested can order. the will be weld on or bolt on your option. i'v designed it around the volkswagen tourag dakar look and the old lada dakar racer.
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Post by Ari Bezuidenhout on Feb 24, 2010 17:24:20 GMT 2
Sounds nice , the only mod I'm doing now is waiting for my IRONMAN coils to come from Aus and then they will lift it by +- 50mm
Ari
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Post by danie on Feb 24, 2010 17:59:26 GMT 2
Hi Mike / Ari
Mike, the skid plate mods sounds very interesting. It will really be nice to see some pics.........
Ari, I decided to do a 50mm lift on Lada as well, and I already started making some components. I decided to do a coil plate lift in front, and I have already machined bushes for the plate lift. With the plate lift option one can still use the original front shocks.
I already made two 30mm stainless steel Balljoint spacers for the front (top) wishbones as well.
At the rear axle I will use two 45 mm polybush spacers - still have to machine them. I will use the original coils - front and rear, to save costs. I will also try to use the original rear shocks - will have to make special shock brackets. The rear axle stabilizers will have to be modified as well.
Will send some pics in the near future.........
Regards
Danie
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Post by lada & korean parts on Feb 27, 2010 3:25:05 GMT 2
the only times we have seen brackets break is through people fitting non gen/gas shocks,waaaay too hard.
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Post by Ari Bezuidenhout on Feb 27, 2010 8:41:12 GMT 2
Still had and have standard shocks so it was probaly just a weak spot on my lada as well as a real bad corrugated road.
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Post by danie on Feb 27, 2010 12:21:25 GMT 2
I must admit, after having a close look at my spare front suspension, the brackets look too thin to my liking. I hav'nt measured the brackets, but it looks like 30 X 3mm flat plates.
Both brackets on my spare suspension has clearly been re - welded before.
Although I do not have current bracket problems on my Lada at the moment, I started making bottom brackets during the past week. The brackets are loose "bolt on" units, 95mm long at the base (instead of 30mm like the originals), and made from 40 X 40 X 5 angle, as well as 40 X 5mm flat steel plate.
Will post some pics next week.......
Danie
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