Ball Joints job and additonal WHAT?
#11
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.
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.
#13
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.
#14
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.
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.
#15
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?
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?
#16
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?
#18
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.
#19
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.
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#20
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.
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