Welding Saddles - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

AusMarty · 07-05-2009, 08:19 AM

We all know that if you weld new spring saddles to your rear that you can warp your axle housing, just wondered idf there are any guys that do his sort of work can enlighten us on how to do it the corect way ?

mbgmike · 07-05-2009, 08:54 AM

We never had any problems welding them on and warping anything. If you are really concerned you can cool it if you want. I doubt if they did that at the factory. You can try with a helper to blow air on it or to go to extreme you can wrap it with copper tubing and run chilled water thru it. Thats a bit extreme though.

ratty 46 · 07-05-2009, 11:24 AM

Never had issues but ....... if it is a concern you can do a few things to "limit" the HAZ like wrapping cool wet rags a few inches away from the weld area & keep them wet. The heat will be drawn to them. You can also google search a material than is a powdered form & when mixed with water makes up a formable heat barrier that will do as the rags will.

I've MIG & TIG these onto a rear with no issues.

Ratty 46

Twisted Minis · 07-05-2009, 01:37 PM

You're over thinking this. Just burn them on.

smashingchuck · 07-05-2009, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Twisted Minis

You're over thinking this. Just burn them on.

Yep. Never had a problem.

mbgmike · 07-05-2009, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Twisted Minis

You're over thinking this. Just burn them on.

Thats what we do.

AusMarty · 07-05-2009, 08:24 PM

Yeah I might be over thinking this,it's just that a guy up the road from me building a kit car had a problem doing it and because it was so close to the flange it couldn't be straightened, maybe he got a bit carried away with the welding

Twisted Minis · 07-05-2009, 09:20 PM

Even if it warped really badly right next to the flange, it could still be straightened. It would be more work, but still doable. I have straightened badly bent axles with heat and a narrowing jig. They where bent closer to the center. If it was out close to the flange, you could remove the flange, and re-weld it on a jig.

If you weld 360° around the axle tube, you will be less likely to warp it. But realistically, as long as you aren't welding an 1/8" thick axle on a 3/8" weld setting with no stops, I doubt you will warp an axle enough for it to matter. If you are truly concerned, any shop nearby that can narrow an axle should be able to get it back to within a few thousandths of being straight again. I assume you are running a 12 bolt, which is a vary common axle. Most shops at least have tooling to do GM 12 bolts and Ford 9" axles.

07-05-2009, 08:19 AM	#1
AusMarty Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 215	Welding Saddles We all know that if you weld new spring saddles to your rear that you can warp your axle housing, just wondered idf there are any guys that do his sort of work can enlighten us on how to do it the corect way ?

07-05-2009, 08:54 AM	#2
mbgmike Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Pasadena,Tx /Pto Pta DR Posts: 5,415	Re: Welding Saddles We never had any problems welding them on and warping anything. If you are really concerned you can cool it if you want. I doubt if they did that at the factory. You can try with a helper to blow air on it or to go to extreme you can wrap it with copper tubing and run chilled water thru it. Thats a bit extreme though.

07-05-2009, 11:24 AM	#3
ratty 46 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Atlanta, Ga. Posts: 1,104	Re: Welding Saddles Never had issues but ....... if it is a concern you can do a few things to "limit" the HAZ like wrapping cool wet rags a few inches away from the weld area & keep them wet. The heat will be drawn to them. You can also google search a material than is a powdered form & when mixed with water makes up a formable heat barrier that will do as the rags will. I've MIG & TIG these onto a rear with no issues. Ratty 46

07-05-2009, 01:37 PM	#4
Twisted Minis Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Windsor, CA Posts: 500	Re: Welding Saddles You're over thinking this. Just burn them on. __________________ If you can find it cheaper, I can fix it!

07-05-2009, 08:24 PM	#7
AusMarty Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 215	Re: Welding Saddles Yeah I might be over thinking this,it's just that a guy up the road from me building a kit car had a problem doing it and because it was so close to the flange it couldn't be straightened, maybe he got a bit carried away with the welding

07-05-2009, 09:20 PM	#8
Twisted Minis Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Windsor, CA Posts: 500	Re: Welding Saddles Even if it warped really badly right next to the flange, it could still be straightened. It would be more work, but still doable. I have straightened badly bent axles with heat and a narrowing jig. They where bent closer to the center. If it was out close to the flange, you could remove the flange, and re-weld it on a jig. If you weld 360° around the axle tube, you will be less likely to warp it. But realistically, as long as you aren't welding an 1/8" thick axle on a 3/8" weld setting with no stops, I doubt you will warp an axle enough for it to matter. If you are truly concerned, any shop nearby that can narrow an axle should be able to get it back to within a few thousandths of being straight again. I assume you are running a 12 bolt, which is a vary common axle. Most shops at least have tooling to do GM 12 bolts and Ford 9" axles. __________________ If you can find it cheaper, I can fix it!



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