anybody got any tips for welding another pass side steering arm to the stock arm. need to do something to clear the springs on a soa 76 Fj40
welding pass side arm
- Thread starter dirty40
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Aren't the arms cast? That would be an accident waiting to happen. Don't some companies make high steer arms already made?
I've got a welded pass side arm I'd sell you, not homemade but is welded together not cast as one piece. PM me if you want it.
I don't think you will get many people here encouraging you to weld up the arm yourself, not that it's not a doable deal, just you won't get many people urging you on. I wouldn't advise someone I don't know to trust the lives of themselves and passengers to a crappy weld. I have heard of people heating the arms and doing a crude hysteer though, that might be another option. Or you could just spend some cash at any of the quality vendors that are reviewed on here, 4x4Labs comes to mind, they have some pretty good stuff.
I don't think you will get many people here encouraging you to weld up the arm yourself, not that it's not a doable deal, just you won't get many people urging you on. I wouldn't advise someone I don't know to trust the lives of themselves and passengers to a crappy weld. I have heard of people heating the arms and doing a crude hysteer though, that might be another option. Or you could just spend some cash at any of the quality vendors that are reviewed on here, 4x4Labs comes to mind, they have some pretty good stuff.
I ran a welded double PS arm for quite a while....never one problem. Did all the welding with a stick welder, let it cool VERY slowly, and did one seriously major 1/4" thick gusset between them. Believe I did all the first pass work with 7016 (7061?) rod and topped it with 6011...tho it's been 6-7 years since then...done correctly, they can last just fine...however, once you've sprung for a histeer setup, you'll wonder why you wasted all that effort...
Probably have it on the shop floor somewheres....it was from a 77 front knuckle.
Probably have it on the shop floor somewheres....it was from a 77 front knuckle.
You'd be better off to just buy one, but, you might wanna consider TIGing it.
Woody, I bet you did a 6011 root pass and covered with 7018 or similar rod. Typical welds for pipefitting from what I was learned.
Woody, I bet you did a 6011 root pass and covered with 7018 or similar rod. Typical welds for pipefitting from what I was learned.
Another Idea that I did was to slow heat the arms and bend them up to make a hysteer then put them into a pile of sand for about 48 hrs. they will still be warm when you pull them out.... it "normalizes" the steel, allows the molecules to cool properly. they seem to work fine, havent broken one yet. I think it changed my ackerman angles very slightly so I get a little rub in turns, but with 16"wide swampers how would ya know? also I believe that the arms are forged not cast huge difference in terms of strength. at least I know the hilux arms are forged.
i've got two 40's with welded arms...both welded by very competant professional welder. unless you are that type guy, i wouldn't do it. as woody said, very thick gusset also. as for the milling flat and bolting, just ask redfox about the guy at cruise moab 04 who did that with longer studs and the studs sheared...oddball size, panic to find something to get him back to camp.
When this is somthing you can buy and have no doubt about why would you risk you life and the lives of others making it? I agree it can be done but why do it? Just buy the real thing pre made. The insurance costs to the vendor alone are enough to ensure quality.
one thing to remember about pretty much all the steering components on cruisers is that they are cast STEEL,,, very big difference from cast iron as far as welding heating ect. goes, though i would highly recommend that if you must ask how to do it you prolly dont know enough about metalurgy and welding to do it safely.