Epoxying Subframe Connectors

[mwh27]

Well, the title states my idea.

I know this might like an insane idea, but epoxy is amazingly strong and I'm wondering if it can be used for bonding the subframe connectors.

Especially epoxys made for cold welds and such.

Have I gone off the deep end?

This came about becuase I can't find a local shop that knows what they are doing, or has a drive on lift, I don't own a MIG welder, and was looking to use some of this new "Technology".

[hockeyman]

NNNOOOO! Do not...(I repeat) DO NOT even attempt to epoxy the subframe connectors!!!!! There is no possible way that epoxy will permanently hold them to the frame of the car. Even though epoxy is strong, it's NOT THAT strong.
Wait to find someone who can weld them in for you, or just buy the Bolt-In SFC's. Save the expoxy to build an engine [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[shenanigans]

not sure what you woudl be using but anything and everything that was made for cold welds is crap and woudl not hold up at all. At least in my experience in ghetto-rigging crap at work.

[Rabid Dog]

what? what? what?

Good lord man, no. Just, no.

[mwh27]

Hmm.. well, you guys think the SFC's would just fall off?

I can understand the epoxy flexing a bit more at the joints where it is bonded, but falling off?

I just know the sheer strengh of some epoxies can be up to 5,000lbs.

[rhouse21]

Originally posted by mwh27:
I just know the sheer strengh of some epoxies can be up to 5,000lbs.

That's is you can get them to bond correctly.

It is true that there are some incredibly strong adhesives out there. (So strong in fact that some Aluminum cars use adhesive joints vs. welds for some situations.) Still, it you take all the time you would need to research the right adhesive, buy it, prep the surface, do the actual bonding, and seal the bond from the elements, you'd probably invest less time money and effort if you just ran down to your local muffler shop and had them weld the parts in for you.

...and you'd have the peace of mind of not having to worry about yout joint falling apart later.

[ellik]

yes, the SFC 'could' simply fall off.... hopefully not while you are crusing at 60mph and wedging itself under your car.

get a bolt-on set of SFC's. It is perfectly fine to run them as bolt-ins until you can find someone to weld them later.

[mwh27]

Originally posted by rhouse21:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by mwh27:
I just know the sheer strengh of some epoxies can be up to 5,000lbs.

That's is you can get them to bond correctly.

It is true that there are some incredibly strong adhesives out there. (So strong in fact that some Aluminum cars use adhesive joints vs. welds for some situations.) Still, it you take all the time you would need to research the right adhesive, buy it, prep the surface, do the actual bonding, and seal the bond from the elements, you'd probably invest less time money and effort if you just ran down to your local muffler shop and had them weld the parts in for you.

...and you'd have the peace of mind of not having to worry about yout joint falling apart later. </font>[/QUOTE]True, but I was looking into alteratives since my reasons stated above.

[Rabid Dog]

Your "reasons" should lead you to buying Bolt-on SFCs, like ellic and hockeyman said. Not, trieng to glue them on, in some oh-so-wacky money saving scheme.

[Ender2664]

Epoxy isn't even close to strong enough. I used to make drive ways out of epoxy, and there is no way that the material would be able to hold the subframe connectors to the car when it is under the stress of G forces.

[Rabid Dog]

If you go to www.installuniversity.com , there is a great tutorial on installing bolt-on SFCs.

You don't need a mechanic, or a fancy lift. You just need a good guide, and some elbow grease.

[V6Bob]

Obviously just epoxying them on is a lousy idea, If they fall off, it's gonna be trouble, probably an accident.

More interesting question. Would use of the PROPER structural adhesive, applied after the PROPER surface treatment, make bolt on sfcs a good thing?

I'm not talking about slapping some random hardware store epoxy onto an unprepared chassis.

http://www.autofieldguide.com/articles/089903.html

[slow6]

thats 5000 lbs per si (psi)
maybe if you had the bolt in setup and reinforced the bolts with epoxy that might help

still, welding is better

[grayman]

OMG.

the SFC's are about 4 feet long. they stiffen the chassis of a 3500 pound car while it is moving.

they won't 'fall off' because they all bolt to the chassis in the rear with the LCA'a. Three point SFC bolt in the middle to the chassis at the tunnel brace and 'weld ins' are welded to the front frame rail sorta behind the front wheel. 'bolt ins' attach in that same spot but use a nut and bolt and a hole that is there in the frame rail from the factory.
Two point SFC's go straight from the LCA to the front frame rail. If the front was glued on and came loose the front would fall down to the ground (depending on how much play was in the LCA bolted connection) but the SFC's would not fly through the air.
I am still against glueing them on. Seriously...it will only take a few minutes to weld up each side.

check out the three point SFC's on Ebay. they bolt to the LCA then to the tunnel brace and then a nut and bolt in the front. Get them up and on...get the front bolt REAL TIGHT and that is bettler than nothing. (cost is about $200) then drive into a muffler shop and have the dude weld a bead on the front connection.

[Rabid Dog]

They are saying they would "fall off" if he epoxied them, Grey.

LOL