5 replies to this topic

[MiniMike87]

Hello, after an idea of price on this from subframe from a 1987 Mayfair, I had it seam welded and powder coated and then decided to go the Honda route so it’s no longer needed

Many thanks!

[pete l]

What does seam welding improve on the subframe ?

[DeadSquare]

If the subframe is new, it stops wet getting in and potentially rusting from between the metal plates.

 

It also stops leaked engine oil getting between the plates and reducing rust.

[MiniMike87]

If the subframe is new, it stops wet getting in and potentially rusting from between the metal plates.
 
It also stops leaked engine oil getting between the plates and reducing rust.

This ^ also adds a little bit more strength I would have thought, little less flex from the standard tack welds and less chance of any stress cracks? Anyway it looks good! Haha

[MiniMadRacer]

We seam weld the racer ones esp doing off road (ie no tarmac events) as it increases the strength considerably and as has been said, stops flexing.

 

But... on a racer we have roll cages reinforcing the shell and providing much more structural rigidity... On a road car the front subframe is supposed to provide some form of structural "collapse" in the event of a head on... if you strengthen it to "buggery" then in the event of a front ender on the road the front sub frame "may not / wont" collapse and will feed the full force into the cabin space, noticeably the front foot well and front cross member.. This could mean a written off shell whereas you might have just got away with a bent front subframe if it hadn't been reinforced...

[dodge44]

Understand the thought process with additional welding but if it adds anything to the debate I'll just leave this image of a real subframe fracture here as the failure on mine occured nearer the seating area of the suspension cone rather than at the welds..... https://ibb.co/V9LWc26

Edited by dodge44, 05 October 2019 - 08:16 AM.