[77 TRASHCAN]

I'm not an expert at anything, and AM not a welder...
My good friend, who was an expert truck chassis and all around truck repair EXPERT, that I was going to have weld up the axle tubes on a couple of rear ends, this summer......passed away, Jan 2nd this year, a Covid death...I know there's people ALL across this country that have had him work on their big trucks...he is sorely missed

Just wanting pointers on welding axle tubes to center section. TIG, stick?
Technique? I know you need to weld a small amount at a time and turn the housing to opposite side, and take your time...

Any help will be appreciated. I have another friend that CAN weld...

Thanks in advance!!!

[BLUE TA]

hi, 7018 stick works very well. just put 1.5-2.0 inch welds at 12,3,6,and 9 o,clock IIRC cliff did the same on his car. good luck, BLUE TA

[Mike Fowke]

Had a buddy weld my tubes a couple of weeks ago with a MIG and .030 wire. He's done it before without a jig, and used the technique you described. Be sure to get the surfaces bare and clean.

[ta man]

Had a local guy tig mine.

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[sdbob]

Weld the spring mounts also.

[Dragncar]

I weld for a living but have never welded axle tubes to cast housing. Are the housings cast iron or cast steel ? 7018 getting it done suggests cast steel as you would have a mess if cast iron.
Ta Mans pic looks like it was Tig welded in SS. Some people weld cast iron with SS wire/rod but there is no advantage over the proper nickle rod. You can weld cast steel to steel tubes with SS wire but again, no advantage over say 7018 rod. But looks good.
Welding cast grey iron is difficult and not done without risk. Iron is very stable and porous and both give you problems. Porosity means junk might bubble up. And stable means iron might crack when it cools. Always cool it slow with heat blanket or propane torch. When welding iron you do not grind out a "V" like you would in steel. You grind a big fat "U" and peen the weld thoroughly. Peening while hot stretches out the weld taking out some of the risk of cracking as the iron cools.
All that said I bet the housings are cast steel. They weld like it from the pics I have seen.
But you can get dissimilar metal rods for welding cast iron to steel or unknown metals. Not cheap.

[NeighborsComplaint]

Originally Posted by ta man

Had a local guy tig mine.

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That is some beautiful welding. Looks machine welded!