How screwed is my K-member?

[poconos_power]

Hey all, so as part of my Duster project I got some advice here to get a 73+ kmember and control arms, and everyone here was kind enough to help me find them initially, which was really cool. However, I'm in the process of welding the seams on my k-member and for some reason I decided to distract myself and test fit the pivot pins. Good thing I did, as it turns out the pin on the passenger side just flops around in the hole. Upon closer inspection it seems to hole is not exactly a circle anymore, and there is some bunched up metal and cracked welds. I've seen some mentions here that such a thing could be fixable, but I'm not quite sure if I should take a crack at it, or how to do it while keeping my geometry from getting all messed up. Was wondering, based on the picture below, what you all think. Tried to capture the shadows to show where the metal is bunched up.

I'll also add, I've basically learned to weld to start on this project, and I'm still learning with each weld. To call me an amateur welder is an insult to amateurs. That said, I'm willing to try some things because my other option is to find a new kmember and start over. For some reason they were everywhere online last year and now, not so much

 

[4mulas]

I’d probably look for a different k-member. They can be found cheap. 100 bucks or less.

If you’re as new to welding as you say you are I would do any ‘fixes’ yourself. This piece is Important for your safety and the safety or vehicles around you.

 

[WV64Signet]

Agree

If that hole is.elongated you don't know what trauma that K went through to end up that way.

Good luck

 

[poconos_power]

Harder to tell in the photos, but the whole is definitely elongated, hence the bunched up metal I'm pretty sure.

Seems like 73+ k-members have dried up for now, guess I've got to wait to see what comes up. Unless someone has one kicking around...?

 

[Icetech]

If you can get the tube out of the k-frame easy enough i would get a new tube in the right size, temp mount the k-frame and put the torsion bar in to align the tube and weld a new one in.. you will be out like $20 and a hours worth of work... the tube isn't special.. No idea at all how they did that though other than if they didn't tighten the pivot and it spent 15 years moving around which is easily possible...

P.S. get a friend to weld it if you are worried.. but that you would do pretty hot and it doesn't need to be perfect..

 

[Hellrats]

That can be fixed. Cut it out and replace the tube. If you are just starting to weld practice on some stuff the same gauge. If you don't feel good enough about welding it yourself just get it tacked together and have it done. But really that is an easy fix.

 

[TT5.9mag]

If you can get the tube out of the k-frame easy enough i would get a new tube in the right size, temp mount the k-frame and put the torsion bar in to align the tube and weld a new one in.. you will be out like $20 and a hours worth of work... the tube isn't special.. No idea at all how they did that though other than if they didn't tighten the pivot and it spent 15 years moving around which is easily possible...

P.S. get a friend to weld it if you are worried.. but that you would do pretty hot and it doesn't need to be perfect..

That can be fixed. Cut it out and replace the tube. If you are just starting to weld practice on some stuff the same gauge. If you don't feel good enough about welding it yourself just get it tacked together and have it done. But really that is an easy fix.

How do you recommend he locates the new tube before welding?

 

[Icetech]

How do you recommend he locates the new tube before welding?

well.. ****... my brain was thinking it was a straight tube, totally forget they are tapered ... nevermind.. thanks TT..

 

[Icetech]

a guy on FBBO fixed his issue with very thick washers on each end to keep it from going anywhere..

 

[Hellrats]

k frame repair (lower control arm shaft hole)

 

[Hellrats]

You can use straight tube and an old control arm pivot. Then heat the tubing and form it around the pivot. Or just weld up washers like is shown above in the link. Easy peasy.

 

[junkyardhero]

@Jim Lusk

paging mr. lusk
mr. lusk to the white courtesy phone please.

 

[72bluNblu]

I wouldn’t be surprised at all if other than the cracked welds that K looked exactly like that from the factory.

They were not precision pieces, the factory welds were not great and occasionally awful.

When I re-do a K I seam weld and gusset it, including the pivot tube. An HD washer works well, IIRC an HD 1-1/8” is what I used.

@Jim Lusk will have better details on repairing the damaged pivot tube, but it’s not an uncommon repair at all. The factory welds weren’t good.

 

[413]

Keep in mind welds can look sloppy, as long as they penetrate the metal they are good.

Grinding them to make them look better doesn't make them any stronger.