Reinforcement To Increase Capacity

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2018 Ford F-250 Super Duty. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Reinforcement of the chassis frame to support either additional loading or concentrated loading does not increase vehicle load carrying capacity unless it has been fully verified that all other vehicle components, (such as the brake system, steering system, suspension system, etc.) can properly and safely support the increased loading.

Increase In Local Stress

In any modification of the chassis frame, the addition of holes, reinforcements, welds, clamps or splices may cause an increase in the local stress in the frame at the point of the modification, therefore causing a stress concentration in the frame sidemember(s).

These local stress concentrations can significantly affect the life of the chassis frame. The specific effect which the stress concentrator will have on the life of the chassis frame is influenced by the location of the stress concentration, the frequency and severity of the loading and the magnitude of stress concentration.