Damaged Skid Rail--What should I do?

nickleuci

nickleuci

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Joined
Nov 16, 2006
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65
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weare nh
On my 98 700sx, the bolt that holds the transfer rod onto the rail, behind the rear boggie wheel, loosed up and poped out last winter.

While it was loose and bouncing around it reshaped the hole in the rail, from round to ovalish. Now when I replace the bolt there will be play in the hole. Should I not worry and just bolt it up, or somehow repair the damage?
 
I had one do that. I filled the hole with jb weld, put a washe on each side and bolted it back together. Never had a problem and the epox held up great. One option for you.
 
That or you can weld it up and drill out the correct size hole. It shouldn't be too much of a problem for you just make sure everything is straight and true.
 
Yep, any of the above will work. I welded a few. Its an easy fix and not expensive if you take it to a welding shop. Biggest pain is taking the skid out and apart. Just don't leave it the way it is.
 
ModMMax said:
Yep, any of the above will work. I welded a few. Its an easy fix and not expensive if you take it to a welding shop. Biggest pain is taking the skid out and apart. Just don't leave it the way it is.
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I agree.
 
I'd go with boring an oversized hole and bushing approach. The problem with welding the alum rail is that material in the heat affected area will be very soft after you're done. Should that bolt ever loosen again, it'll take no time to work an even larger hole. Without proper heat treatment after welding, the strength of the material won't be nearly the same as before.

Just my $0.02!

A.
 
I've actually heard that heating or welding on the rail is bad news and will make it weak, if it bends it will bend where welded. I have no 1st hand experience with this just read some posts on snowest where it has happened.
 
nben said:
Drill it oversize and press in a bushing. I did this on my old poo and it worked well.
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right on brother - right on - if you ever owned an arcshit cat you would have to do this quite a bit.
 
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