Swaybar reinforcement plate blunder?

[bavarian3]

bmwfnatic I see why the cavity wax is necessary as the welding cooks the paint on the other side. This is what I assume it looks like on the inside. It's not bare metal at least.

[bavarian3]

I guess you can just use a punch and then re-drill the holes.

How much water would drain from there if the sway bar bushing and/or bracket is pressed up against that area?

I'm thinking the holes have something more to do with manufacturing, but i could be wrong.

Makes me wonder about the holes that have plugs all around the chassis floor.

[bmwfnatic]

I'm thinking the holes have something more to do with manufacturing, but i could be wrong.

Makes me wonder about the holes that have plugs all around the chassis floor.

The car goes into a bath, a cathodic coating. The plugged holes are for that solution to drain out after coating, and when the coating is dry they get plugged up.

[davidinnyc]

FWIW I like to add a little weld at the base of each stud when doing those. But yeah odd that the drain holes are "missing". Work looks great.

Do you have a picture of the weld(s) at the base of the studs? I'm planning to perform this on both my cars and curious if you weld and then grind down a bit to flatten the surface.

David

[kaiv]

Sorry, I don't have any pictures handy but yes you might have to do just that if your weld gets in the way