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Ball Joints job and additonal WHAT?

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Old 03-02-2016 | 04:33 PM
  #11  
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A lot of folks recommend the C gussets.

So I think it boils down to this:

There is NO mobile welding where I live period. My choices are 1) not do gussets 2) take my rig to 4wheelparts or to Northridge 4x4 and pay them to do all the work, in the $750 - $950 range or 3) get some inexpensive welding stuff from HF and try to do it myself 4) clean and deeply score the inner C and gussets and use the worlds strongest metal epoxy on it.

I can pay the high shop labor costs and sit in a lobby all day while they do it, or allow myself 2 days in my own driveway.
Old 03-02-2016 | 05:45 PM
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There has to be a local Jeep club that has a few people that would love to do some welding for you.
Old 03-02-2016 | 06:36 PM
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I see you live in Bellevue, I can guarantee you there's mobile welding there, a quick Google search showed multiple mobile welding services in Bellevue. That options probably expensive though. The epoxy is a really bad idea. If you've never welded before I'd pass on c gussets being your first project, unless you want to practice for a while on other stuff. I would also pass on 4wp, I've seen a few 4wp on the east side mess up simple stuff, welding might be a tad bit hit or miss with them. If you wheel, bite the bullet and pay a shop or buddy to weld them on.
Old 03-03-2016 | 03:47 AM
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Well I was smirking when I made the epoxy comment, a combination of sarcasm and exasperation. Although, I did use some epoxies with metal in them years ago and you would have to cut through it with a grinder, you couldn't chisel pieces apart. I haven't welded in eons and I really don't think I want to gear up and practice either.

I don't wheel, but I have big tires and see lot's of rough logging road.

I googled for mobile welders in Bellevue, it just a referral service and yup expensive. Dan Fast muffle no longer welds, The place next to them that does hitches no longer welds, Midas only welds exhausts.

And yeah - NW4x4 over 4WP but dude it's a long ways.
Old 03-03-2016 | 02:56 PM
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OK so maybe some success! I called a welding supply place who in turn made some calls and I found 2 guys that can do it, without charging $600+ like one quote I got.

These would be in the $200 - $300 range. One guy only has a 110v welder, but ARTEC says they have many success stories from guy with 110 in their garage.

The plan would be for me to pull off everything down to the C and shine it up, clean the gussets. The welder would come over and do the job, I would then clean that up and paint.

The next day I would put everything back together again with new parts = ball joints, bearing assembly, u-joints and maybe BB kit with new lines.

In order to facilitate the welder, I would have to do the tear down myself the night before. If I get that far, then I think I'll be able to do the reassembly myself too.

What say ye?
Old 03-03-2016 | 03:05 PM
  #16  
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Originally Posted by Unlimited_Fun
OK so maybe some success! I called a welding supply place who in turn made some calls and I found 2 guys that can do it, without charging $600+ like one quote I got. These would be in the $200 - $300 range. One guy only has a 110v welder, but ARTEC says they have many success stories from guy with 110 in their garage. The plan would be for me to pull off everything down to the C and shine it up, clean the gussets. The welder would come over and do the job, I would then clean that up and paint. The next day I would put everything back together again with new parts = ball joints, bearing assembly, u-joints and maybe BB kit with new lines. In order to facilitate the welder, I would have to do the tear down myself the night before. If I get that far, then I think I'll be able to do the reassembly myself too. What say ye?
I enjoy seeing this go from replacing some ball joints to rebuilding the entire axle and adding a lift lmao. Honestly, I wouldn't even bother with it. If it bends it would be cheaper and easier to buy a new housing off craigslist. Honestly, I would almost bet my life that if you don't think you really need them, you probably don't. I thought for 100000% that when I replaced my front axle the old one would be bent with how long and hard I've beat on it, and it wasn't. Save the cash dude...
Old 03-03-2016 | 11:38 PM
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The descending voice of reason.

OK so I save the $$ on the welding and gussets and apply it towards the BB kit . . . and still do the ball joint, u-joints and bearings.
Old 03-04-2016 | 03:04 AM
  #18  
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Originally Posted by Unlimited_Fun
The descending voice of reason. OK so I save the $$ on the welding and gussets and apply it towards the BB kit . . . and still do the ball joint, u-joints and bearings.
Are your u joints/ wheel bearings bad? If not, I wouldn't replace them. It's not hard to get to them if/when you do need to replace them in the future. I know it's nice to just replace things but if they're still in good shape there really isn't much reason to replace them.
Old 03-04-2016 | 06:57 AM
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Like I said, 89k and no indication that this has ever been done, and running 35's. I want to install the ball joints that I already own, so for the labor of the break down, I may as well spend a few bucks for a known good. Gussets? Idk, this is an add on fantasy with a lot of mixed opinions across forums, but the u-joints and bearings are a real dependency.


.
Old 03-04-2016 | 07:00 AM
  #20  
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Originally Posted by Unlimited_Fun
Like I said, 89k and no indication that this has ever been done, and running 35's. I want to install the ball joints that I already own, so for the labor of the break down, I may as well spend a few bucks for a known good. Gussets? Idk, this is an add on fantasy with a lot of mixed opinions across forums, but the u-joints and bearings are a real dependency.


.
eh... I'd say there's differing opinions on a truss or a sleeve... most will say the gussets are a cheap fix to a definite known weak point. Heck, I think there's two threads running this month that talk about bent Cs. They aren't as cheap as a pack of gum, but they also aren't more than the price of those ball joints you have ( understand they were given to you, but if ya had to purchase them)..


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