Welding to swivel hubs

[sudso]

Has anyone reinforced their front diff at each end between the drop arm brackets on the axle tube and to the swivel hub by welding in gussets?
From what I've seen this is where they bend after an "accidental" hard landing from a substantial height.

I've made some templates to the exact shape for top and bottom of the axle tube to use some flat bar for gussets but I'm a bit concerned that the outer swivel hubs may distort a bit or crack with the heat of welding.
This wouldnt be good especially if the bearing cups didnt fit back in properly.
I plan to preheat the area a bit before I weld it and let it cool slowly too, maybe with a butane blow torch.
The outer hub is cast anyway so I doubt it would distort but if someones done it before without drama's thats good.

The gussets wont interfere with the swivel, I allowed clearance for that.

cheers, sudso

[bazooked]

we used to do this at my previous place of employment for many many years, and now evryone around australia is doin it, , any how yes u can , make sure ur diff is stripped plus we had to straighten them after all the welding, easy if ya have all the gear, we used 8 mm flat bar for the nissan diffs, and 3mm plate bent into a u shape for the reinforcing on the tubes.

[Tiny]

check I think drop bears build in members, done on 80s diffs

[Tiny]

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/viewtopic.php?t=31235

this is the one, bout 10 posts down

[sudso]

Yeah Tiny thanks. Exactly what I have made but for the top as well.

Dont think I'll brace in between the left and right radius arm brackets though, they dont seem to bend in the middle unless you smash into rocks hard.