I had my front iron ear just snap off while driveing home the watter pump housing gasket blew out the side. Lucky i was less than a mile to the house when it went.
I cannot recall ever such an issue. Am i going to face pulling the engine apart to replace the iron Or is there any fix to this? The metal dosen't look like it can be welded. And it looks as if the ear gives alot of support.
1989 S5 just rebuilt 2000 miles just brokein and broke

 

I bet that iron was dropped some time before before it was assembled. With the vibrations from driving it finally snapped. I have never seen that before.

 

I've seen it before...

It's what happens when...
1) You overtorque the fasteners for the water pump housing, AND
2) You don't use the proper spacing washers on the two studs - one of which broke off in your pic.


-Ted

 

congratulations u get to pull the motor and pull the entire thing apart to replace the front iron..you win a cookie

 

looks like you can convert to an electric water pump to avoid pulling the engine.

 

A skilled welder with a TIG should be able to fix it. They probably won't guarantee the fix.

Hell, I've welded worse (cracked rear iron oil sender boss) with flux core and have had success...

 

yea someone skilled with welding cast iron *might* be able to repair it

 

+1 vote for not using the spacers.