i think i mighta screwed up "saftey'' question

[85broncduece]

Ok ,Well in the process of fixin my bIIs previous owners misshap, I may have created a worse problem. ill cut to the chase i was torchin off my spring perches because they were not level to each other, i kinda burned a hole, well more of a line in the tube. my question is, Is it safe to weld it up? The truck gets beat on prety hard so I dont wanna find out the hard way in the desert.

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

I would fill it in with a weld then put a plate over it 1/4" thick and 4" wider than the part you pulled off.

 

[85broncduece]

didnt think about plating it thanks. Ill pick up some 1/4 in plate this afternoon. Should I pound it into shape arround the axle tube with heat and a BFH. use just a BFH or a peice of tubing cut in half instead of flat plate? Sorry bout all the questions but Ive never damaged an axle tube before so Ive been pondering how to fix it a few days now. THANK YOU!!! again.

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

didnt think about plating it thanks. Ill pick up some 1/4 in plate this afternoon. Should I pound it into shape arround the axle tube with heat and a BFH. use just a BFH or a peice of tubing cut in half instead of flat plate? Sorry bout all the questions but Ive never damaged an axle tube before so Ive been pondering how to fix it a few days now. THANK YOU!!! again.

That's what I would do and I would round the ends of the flat steel. You don't want to have a straight weld going around it. It will cause a weak spot in the tube. make sure to get good penetration on your welds too. It probably wouldn't hurt to drill 4 evenly spaced 1/2" holes through the plate and once you get it in place weld those holes up to give it more stability. It's a lil over kill but it's better than not enough.

 

[a31ford]

Note:

you need to add the plate in such a way that it's "stress releived" do NOT simply cut the plate square, rather a trapezoid shape, and cut plug holes in the plate and plug well as well as the diagonals of the trapezoid.

I can get you specific pages on "Frame Repairs" from an older GMC truck manual, if you need them (free)

Greg

 

[85broncduece]

I tore the axle apart, it looks alot worse from the inside. so Im scrapin this housing out. Got a line on a complete axle for $150. So Im just gonna bite the bullet, but this time sawzall and grinder... no fire for axles unless I have enuff room to position the flame a little beter. Would a truss be a good idea for the new rear. Sorry to keep this draging on, just trying to avoid future mishaps.