'93 W350 front left spring hanger

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Whilst dutifully changing my oil and filters last night, I noticed that the front left spring hanger had been knocked off, and bolted back on. P/O used grade 8 bolts, which is the good part, I guess. The bad news is the frame horn it bolts to is a little bent, and has a small crack at the bolt/former rivet hole. Can I beat it straight, and grind and weld the crack shut, or do I have to grind off rivets and replace the frame horn? Are the bolts a problem? Don't know anyone around here that works with rivets... Thanks for ideas and advise, Alan.

 

[Archive]

The factory service manual actually says to use bolts when rivets are removed. They must be a tight fit into the holes.

A crack can be dealt with either by stop drilling it, grinding it out then welding and reinforcing the area OR part replacement.

For the spring mount, part replacement sounds easier.

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'93 W350 Club Cab, Bright White, 5 sp. , 130K, Factory Options: LE, 4. 10 Limited Slip, 7600 lb. rear springs, tachometer, front stabilizer bar. Mods: Banks stinger plus, Linex bedliner, 25,000 lb gooseneck ball, 10,000 lb receiver, Tekonsha brake controller, POWER WAGON injectors-WAY faster than stock!.