tack welding front axle

[mickey]

any one done this?
worth doing?

http://www.off-road.com/trucks4x4/artic ... ?id=264193

[KiwiBacon]

I wouldn't.
A tack weld will destroy any heat treatment in that area. Resulting in an area of both stressed (tension from the weld) and weaker steel than that surrounding it.

Basically it's creating an excellent point for your axle to crack then break from.

[turoa]

Ive done it but theres not much point,just run it without circlips. The CV is secured and so that cant move and the axle cant really go very far because it it between the cross pin in the diff and the cv.

My 2c anyway

[Steve_t647]

It depends on how often you break and have to replace birfields, the more often the more you would like to do this, in some situations there is no reason for the clip, in an LSD diff and lokka I have found there is not enough inward movement of the axle to require it.

In the US this was quite a common but this mod has been attributed to some birf star failiures and some spline failiures if the axle moves in far enough (longfield did tests on this and their warranty requires both clips to be installed) also no other after market axle manufacturer has lenthened the axle (to reduce the inner birfield clip requirement) or reduced the amount of spline on the diff end of the axle.

Personaly I like the idea of making changing birfields easier but then I have only broken one on a trip and just removed it replacing it with a spare birfield and axle (lucky it was the short side), it may be worth doing but you will still have to carry a spare birfield in case it breaks.

[mickey]

thanks for the replies.
think i'll stick to circlips.