Frame rails repair ... if/how

[cbfb]

Got a ding in the frame rail during an outing last weekend. Just a ding from the bottom of the rail (see pic below) about 2-3" across. It's pushed the rail out so there's a slight bulge.

My local mechanic said it was borderline for the warrant, said it should get through but wasn't ideal.

The local panelbeater reckoned just bang everything back into shape then weld a bit of flat under the dent.

My neighbour (who was a truck engineer) reckoned bang the bulge in then stitch weld some channel across the dodgy section.

BUT the mechanic (who does my WOFs) said it's not a good idea to weld the frame rail...

So who's right here? Should I leave it as is or fix it, and how? Don't want to ask VTNZ for obvious reasons.

[Sadam_Husain]

it dosent look like its structurely weakened anything or going to affect the trucks handling so hypotheticaly speaking what they cant see dosent hurt them so if there were means of it becoming disguised and un-noticed it would probably be a lot less mucking around than repair certification and all those cans of worms that can easily get opened up ... um hypotheticaly

[cbfb]

it dosent look like its structurely weakened anything or going to affect the trucks handling so hypotheticaly speaking what they cant see dosent hurt them so if there were means of it becoming disguised and un-noticed it would probably be a lot less mucking around than repair certification and all those cans of worms that can easily get opened up ... um hypotheticaly

OK yeah I guess I'll just paint it up so it looks OK and see. Will worry abuot it if it fails the warrant. Not for a few months but don't like nasty suprises, would rather have time to get it done cheap as possible!

Thanks

[pruggerdore]

smear some grease over it, go for a blat down a gravel dusty road, no more problem. realisticly tho a tho its not serious enough to affect strength and wof man probably wont even notice it. definetly wouldnt be welding it and make a problem where there isnt one

[cbfb]

definetly wouldnt be welding it and make a problem where there isnt one

Yeah I reckon. No going back after they've seen it been welded and don't like it

Just have to go get it dirty beforehand then, plenty of options there...

[nismo26]

On one of my old skylines I drilled a hole in the floor with a hole saw above the dent then smacked it out then used some bog and under seal.

[cbfb]

On one of my old skylines I drilled a hole in the floor with a hole saw above the dent then smacked it out then used some bog and under seal.

There's actually a drain hole already in the dent in just the right place, so I could borrow a slide hammer and do it that way. Not sure if anyone's got one but will ask around.

[GTS]

youre best to fix it before a wof man sees it or they will want all sorts of crap done to fix it we had a car that had been jacked up by the cross member and dented it after 3 re checks we were still told it wasnt close enough to originol to pass so we cut the section out flattend it then a bit of welding and some under seal and all was good there has been a real crackdown on dents in frame rails they must be running out of things to fail people on.

[cbfb]

youre best to fix it before a wof man sees it or they will want all sorts of crap done to fix it we had a car that had been jacked up by the cross member and dented it after 3 re checks we were still told it wasnt close enough to originol to pass so we cut the section out flattend it then a bit of welding and some under seal and all was good there has been a real crackdown on dents in frame rails they must be running out of things to fail people on.

Thing is if I weld it myself (or get my neighbour to do it more like) they'd probably still want an engineers report for it?

I guess it depends where you take it, a guy I used down south never gave me any hassles then after 4 or 5 warrants failed me on a couple of things that had been the same all along

[slide]

Thing is if I weld it myself (or get my neighbour to do it more like) they'd probably still want an engineers report for it?

Nope... No requirement for that. Just got to be done to with normal trade practice etc. So botchy weld = fail.
I'd be more worried about whats looking like a great rust hole on the right of picture tho ??

[cbfb]

So botchy weld = fail.

Right, I won't weld it myself then

I'd be more worried about whats looking like a great rust hole on the right of picture tho ??

Do you mean the really bright white patch? I wondered that, I can't figure out what it is. Doesn't appear to be anything there. Will have another look when I'm under there.

[crazyclark31]

that white spot it just the sunlight coming through the wheel well on the otherside. looks to be coming thru between the chassis and the body.

[cbfb]

that white spot it just the sunlight coming through the wheel well on the otherside. looks to be coming thru between the chassis and the body.

Yeah I thought so at first, funny shape though. Must be the camera/light.