wtf is a "Flitch Support Member"?

SB118 · 15 Sep 2009 at 01:07

Friend of ours has MOTd his Vito van and the only welding piece is listed as "Nearside front (Flitch Support Member) Suspension compnent mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded."

I don't have a clue what they're talking about.

I've had a look at the NSF and the only rust i can find is this...

The actual shock mount is rock solid and the underside of that area is solid too (even after a good jabbing with screwdriver), but i'm guessing this is within the area for suspension stength?

Is this are a flitch support member? :confused:

is this possibly the most stupid name for a vehicle part? and is it going to be an utter beach to get access too?

ci_newman · 15 Sep 2009 at 08:01

Wow that is rusted, and probably provides some part of the front impact protection I would have thought.

IIRC, if it's within 30cm of a crucial mounting pointing (e.g. Brakes, top mounts) then it'll be a fail. I can't believe it has become that poor in just a year since it's last MOT though.

4T5 · 15 Sep 2009 at 08:20

Never heard of it myself but that rust looks bad enough to fail because of how close it is to the top of the strutt. I reckon the Dude made the name up himself. Looks a bitch of a job to get to, Rather you than me mate.

VFR_KID · 15 Sep 2009 at 08:20

Im surprised that it hasnt failed in the past, thats not just happened since the last MOT

SB118 · 16 Sep 2009 at 20:55

ok, wing off and the job is "slightly" bigger than expected. I've knocked out anything that was loose and this is the hole so far.

Think i'm going to be busy tomorrow!

thepharcyde · 16 Sep 2009 at 21:08

SB118 said:
ok, wing off and the job is "slightly" bigger than expected. I've knocked out anything that was loose and this is the hole so far.

Think i'm going to be busy tomorrow!

Save yourself a job and take it down the scrappy.

Cybermyk · 16 Sep 2009 at 21:30

I think it's actually a flitch support panel, not heard it called that in years mind.

s0ck · 16 Sep 2009 at 21:39

Love a bit of flitch tbh.

Lopéz · 16 Sep 2009 at 22:01

Yeah that's nicely deteriorated isn't it. Repair panel, or cutting plain steel to fit? Will be hard to get rigidity in it if you go down that route I guess.

Lopéz · 16 Sep 2009 at 22:01

thepharcyde said:
Save yourself a job and take it down the scrappy.

Why? It's not actually that big a deal, just time consuming to repair.

SB118 · 16 Sep 2009 at 22:31

Lopéz said:
Yeah that's nicely deteriorated isn't it. Repair panel, or cutting plain steel to fit? Will be hard to get rigidity in it if you go down that route I guess.

Using fresh steel, cut it to shape, them weld the seams. Boring long assed job

Fuzz · 17 Sep 2009 at 12:57

A flitch panel is basically an inner wing or part there of that connects bulkhead to pillar and wing.
Looks like you found the correct rust hole to weld up

It'll be easier if the panel is available to buy and weld that in instead of trying to make one from scratch.

It failed because the hole is within 12" of the suspension mount (top mount)

SB118 · 17 Sep 2009 at 23:03

Utter ballache of a job, having to make the new panels and follow the curve of the arch.

Learned a lesson today. You wear a mask to protect your eyes from the blinding light and uv radiation. This last point is the important one. If you spend the day welding in a t-shirt, you will end up with ****ing sunburn on your arms!

Fuzz · 17 Sep 2009 at 23:24

oh yes, any exposed skin will get some good abuse off the UV radiation the welding arc gives off..