Could welding gussets bend/distort an axle tube?
10-17-2009, 07:45 PM
#12
If you put enough heat into those forgings it is DISTINCTLY possible to ovalize the ball joint holes. If they were welded on hot enough with the ball joints installed, they may have just melted or distorted the race of the ball joint.
As for pulling the housing, I doubt it would bend it. Certainly possible, but it would take some serious heat.
The only way to tell for sure is to put the housing in a jig. Not something we can easily do, obviously. The other tell tales are leaking from the axle seals, cracks around the rosette welds...
Try something stupid and rotate your tires side to side.....
As for pulling the housing, I doubt it would bend it. Certainly possible, but it would take some serious heat.
The only way to tell for sure is to put the housing in a jig. Not something we can easily do, obviously. The other tell tales are leaking from the axle seals, cracks around the rosette welds...
Try something stupid and rotate your tires side to side.....
Last edited by Sethmark; 10-17-2009 at 07:48 PM.
10-17-2009, 08:37 PM
#13
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I spent about 2 hours welding mine on (I did cool everything off as much as possible), I have 35s, rock crawl about every other month, its been 10k miles and I have had no problems. I check my balljoints atevery oil change & have had no front end issues yet.
10-18-2009, 06:44 AM
#14
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If you put enough heat into those forgings it is DISTINCTLY possible to ovalize the ball joint holes. If they were welded on hot enough with the ball joints installed, they may have just melted or distorted the race of the ball joint.
As for pulling the housing, I doubt it would bend it. Certainly possible, but it would take some serious heat.
The only way to tell for sure is to put the housing in a jig. Not something we can easily do, obviously. The other tell tales are leaking from the axle seals, cracks around the rosette welds...
Try something stupid and rotate your tires side to side.....
As for pulling the housing, I doubt it would bend it. Certainly possible, but it would take some serious heat.
The only way to tell for sure is to put the housing in a jig. Not something we can easily do, obviously. The other tell tales are leaking from the axle seals, cracks around the rosette welds...
Try something stupid and rotate your tires side to side.....
Leaning more towards the ball joints/groove being warped during welding.