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Welding on a rear end?

2K views 3 replies 3 participants last post by  techinspector1 
#1 ·
Putting a 95 S10 Posi in my old Stude, but I need to relocate the spring perches and have some random questions.
1. The axel tubes are steel, right?
2. Can I weld on the perches without dismantling the rear end?
3. Should I drain the fluid or replace it with something non flamable?
4. Is warping the housing a big concern?
5. Other than the correct pinon angle, is there anything else?
 
#2 ·
oldguy829 said:
Putting a 95 S10 Posi in my old Stude, but I need to relocate the spring perches and have some random questions.
1. The axel tubes are steel, right?
2. Can I weld on the perches without dismantling the rear end?
3. Should I drain the fluid or replace it with something non flamable?
4. Is warping the housing a big concern?
5. Other than the correct pinon angle, is there anything else?
Tubes are steel
No need to dismantle it. Clean the outside where you are to weld.
No need to drain the fluid, even if you did, there is so much fluid still inside that it's going to smoke no matter what.

If the fluid catches fire, it'll use up the oxygen pretty fast and go out.

Weld in 1/2" long beads, alternate between perches to allow some cooling between welds, and you should not warp it alot. Don't pile up the weld and don't turn up the heat a bunch and you'll be fine.
When I do them like that they only move a little bit. .030" or so at the housing end, not enough to worry about.

Nothing else other than pinion angle.


Later, mikey
 
#4 ·
Just for others who plan to do this, I'll add a little about the pinion angle. With the car level, put a protractor on the trans tailshaft. Let's say you read a 3* down-bubble. Rotate the diff housing so that you have a 2* up-bubble on the pinion. This will allow the pinion to line up parallel with the tailshaft under light to moderate power when the pinion gear climbs the ring gear a little while cruising/passing and will lead to a long and happy life for all involved. At least, that's the way I do it for a street ride. For drag racing, you'd want more difference of angle, but that's a different story.
 
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