Ford Repair: Control Arm Bracket, ford ranger pickup, alignment shop

Question
Hello Dennis,
My name is Tim and I have an 84 ford Ranger Pickup 4WD V6. I
was moving my truck in my yard and wend over a stump about
4" in height. After I cleared the stump my Left Front tire was
sagging. I stopped and looked to see that I had a control arm
that sheared itself from the bracket that holds it to the frame. It
looks like it was probably the original bracket and had signs of
rust showing through. My question is how much should I expect
to pay if I bring this in for repair. Is it better to bring it to a
FORD Dealer or a local mechanic? It looks like something that
could probably be welded back in place but I am trying to gather
information to see what is the best and safest way to approach
this problem. I looked at the right side and it looks good. It was
probably replaced at some point before I bought the truck used.
Thank you in advance for any help and If I was unclear or
confused you please feel free to contact me. Cheers, Tim

Answer
If you are talking abou the bracket at the rear of the strut rod, that is a common problem, usually because the bushings wear out and the metal strut rubs on the bracket.

What ever you do, find a reputable shop to do the work. If the bracket rusted off it most likely can't be welded. These pieces are still available I think. A good frame or alignment shop can do this as well as a Ford dealer.