Hey all, I got a 00 em1 si. Has fully adjustable suspension, mostly skunk 2. I bought the car like this. I was doing the rear trailing arm bushings on it this weekend and noticed this hack job to both sides. Should I get that access panel that was cut out welded back?

I think they cut off the front part to fit the 'god snow' (not kidding) adjustable toe rods. Should that panel be welded back as well? Car drive fine before I noticed this and still drives fine.

image attached

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1f3-...ew?usp=sharing

 

Holy ****.

Yes, that bolt is in bending and single shear. It will not last like that. The window is fine, although they did a pretty hack job of opening it up. Why they cut off the part that wraps around the other side of the bushing, who knows, but it will break the bolt if left like that.

What it should look like:

 

great just what I thought- haha. It has been like this a while on both sides of the car I am certain.

I figure I will make a new piece out of some sheet steel I have then have a shop weld it in.

What would be a general, reasonable price for a shop to weld in my pre-fabricated piece?

 

Oh man, I have no clue. Might be best to have a welder/fabricator make the pieces and then have a body shop that does frame repair do the actual welding in. There’s chipguard and undercoat that needs to be dealt with around there.

 

ok found a parts car guy wanted 80 for both pieces that I had to cut out, they probably would not work because the aftermarket toe rod is wider so no thanks.

Called my welding shop, gave pics, they can fix it.

I have pretty thick sheet steel (thicker than what was on there oem but not too thick) left over from a project, I'll make a template out of cardboard and then make the piece fit and weld in there.

I'll post up how it turns out by the end of december.

Appreciate the help!

 

Good luck!

Edit: you know now that I look at it again, it looks like the PO used camber arms for toe arms. Double check, that’s probably why the bushings are wider.

edit edit: NM My Brain shut off for a minute. That wouldn’t work.

 

All fixed. And welded in. I'll paint it tomorrow