Had a guy call and ask

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Can you weld on my truck, a part has rusted off the frame.  The owner did not know what the part was so I thought hell I will stop by and take a look.   I had no plans to weld on his truck frame but figure id stop by and offer some advice while in the area...The truck is a 1998 Dodge Ram 2500 4x4.  Ya know the ones with a rear end for a front end  AKA straight axle...  Well this is the first time I have been under such a truck and im no mechanic...  The part that was broke was busted clear of the front axle housing,  its an arm that extends from the axle housing on the passengers side and attaches on the drivers side at the frame...  Looks to me as if it is to keep the axle centered under the truck..The owner told me when it busted the truck would sway out over the axle.  It originally busted 500 kms from town and he had a guy blast it together with a MIG welder by the looks of it.  Once he got back to town it broke again in his driveway luckily it wasn't while on the highway doing 120km/h.I told the guy I wouldn't touch it, was far too rotted, most things like this are heat treated and that there was way too much liability, and that it shouldn't have been welded to begin with.   He tried convincing me to tack weld it so he could get it to someone else and I also refused.  I know I made the right call, but how many of you guys have had people come to you like this ?    I can't believe someone actually welded it.   Had to be some idiot in his back yard..Journeyman / Red Seal Welder (What a useless test)Miller CST 280Miller XMT 350Miller 12vs XtremeEvolution Evo 28 mag drillEvolution 380 Dry Cut saw
Reply:If it was my truck....I would have welded it together......but NOT someone elses.Miller 252Miller Bobcat 225Lincoln MigPak 1801959 Hyster forkliftHarris OA torch
Reply:If it was my truck....I would have built or bought a new one.  Somebody else's truck....I may have replaced it with a new one or just turned the job down.Last edited by Boostinjdm; 08-18-2013 at 09:13 PM.My name's not Jim....
Reply:You would have to replace the whole front axle to replace the part.  More of a mechanics job...  And he had no plans to spend that kind of $$$$200 was his limit !   lolJourneyman / Red Seal Welder (What a useless test)Miller CST 280Miller XMT 350Miller 12vs XtremeEvolution Evo 28 mag drillEvolution 380 Dry Cut saw
Reply:Sounds like the panhard rod, aka panhard bar, or tracking bar."The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life." -Theodore Roosevelt
Reply:Are you talking about the long red bar, or the mounts?My name's not Jim....
Reply:On second thought....I'd just buy one.http://www.1aauto.com/1A/SwayBars/Do...FbBDMgodoVYAIQMy name's not Jim....
Reply:The mounts on the axle housing where the bar attaches.  Bloody thing was rusted to not much more than 1/16" thick where it busted.  And the mount was welded to the axle..  No way to change it without welding on the axle housing.  A bit of a crazy thing for a guy to stich back together with a mig especially with it rusted so badly.Last edited by Newfie_1986; 08-18-2013 at 09:28 PM.Journeyman / Red Seal Welder (What a useless test)Miller CST 280Miller XMT 350Miller 12vs XtremeEvolution Evo 28 mag drillEvolution 380 Dry Cut saw
Reply:I'm rather sure the tube on the axle is mill steel and can be welded without too much concern.Most shock mounts and spring saddles are welded on the same way.  The pumpkin and sometimes the tube ends can be cast but not the tube. I would have had him sign off on it and given it a try. But what do I know.Gizzmo
Reply:Seen many new track bar/panhard bar mounts welded to the axle.  A lot of off-road companies make aftermarket brackets that are much beefier.The hard par is cutting the old one off as it is usually part of the coil spring bucket.
Reply:axles are welded on everyday. like said, go to any offroad forum. they cut old mounts off and weld new on to fit them into different vehicles. From the sounds of it He didnt want to fix it right, and being rusted I wouldnt touch it unless you were welding an entire new bracket on. sounds like you made the right call.- Christian M.C3 Welding & Fabrication - CNC Plasma Cutting-Mobile Welding-Custom welding and fabwww.c3welding.com
Reply:No way could I make a new bracket cut the old one off and weld the new one on for $200 or less.  I sent him to a suspension shop anyhow.  Figured they would know better than me.  They wont be doing anything for $200 or less I don't imagine...Journeyman / Red Seal Welder (What a useless test)Miller CST 280Miller XMT 350Miller 12vs XtremeEvolution Evo 28 mag drillEvolution 380 Dry Cut saw
Reply:Originally Posted by Newfie_1986No way could I make a new bracket cut the old one off and weld the new one on for $200 or less.  I sent him to a suspension shop anyhow.  Figured they would know better than me.  They wont be doing anything for $200 or less I don't imagine...
Reply:Originally Posted by Newfie_1986No way could I make a new bracket cut the old one off and weld the new one on for $200 or less.  I sent him to a suspension shop anyhow.  Figured they would know better than me.  They wont be doing anything for $200 or less I don't imagine...
Reply:panhard bar, keeps the axle centered under the truck when the suspension cycles, also helps counteract bump steer. They should be able to fabricate or buy a new mount for it and get it burned on pretty easy. That piece is not a "critical" component so the truck won't go flying of the road or explode if it fails, doesnt manage a lot of stress, not much more than your drag link on your steering.Good call though on sending him to a suspension shop, always best to refuse work on suspension/frame parts if your not sure about them.
Reply:I cut brackets off axles and weld new ones on to fit new suspensions all the time.  Then the vehicles are taken out and used in a manner that the engineers never dreamed it would be.   Not a problem.   It does need to be done correctly of course but it is no more or less risk than welding a set of stairs or something like that.
Reply:Being a hot rodder as well as all of my friends its common practice to weld on frames (unibody mostly) and suspension.  And A LOT of it gets done with a 120 volt mig!   That pan hard bar isn't a big deal....not like torque boxes that are gonna slammed with 6-700 hp all at once leaving the line. But if your not comfortable in your ability to make the repair you did the right thingLast edited by jamesyarbrough; 08-22-2013 at 08:16 AM.
Reply:Ca$h only, and you were never here is my standard answer to people that want stuff like that done.Disclaimer; "I am just an a$$hole welder, don't take it personally ."
Reply:fab bracket to replace rusted out one  weld it up and cash please very simple repairMiller Xmt 350Lincoln Ln-25Ahp 200xSmith Gas Mixer AR/HTig is my Kung FuThrowing down dimes and weaving aboutInstagram http://instagram.com/[email protected]
Reply:Originally Posted by WookieWeldingfab bracket to replace rusted out one  weld it up and cash please very simple repair
Reply:Originally Posted by TozziWeldingCa$h only, and you were never here is my standard answer to people that want stuff like that done.