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Spring Welding

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by metalmike13, Jul 23, 2007.

  1. metalmike13
    Joined: May 13, 2006
    Posts: 355

    metalmike13
    Member
    from Glass City

    I know this is a big no no. What about welding the "***" on that holds your axle in place? could this put enough heat into the spring that it could weaken it?? or ruin it?? I am airbagging the rear on my 54 olds, and just using a single leaf on each side to locate the axle while the airbags are the springs. Just trying to figure out my options. The spring shop here in town wants $300 to make me 2 single leaf springs with eyes!! ouch!! any suggestions??
     
  2. Flatdog
    Joined: Jan 31, 2003
    Posts: 1,285

    Flatdog
    Member Emeritus

    Take your spring and drill a hole with a masonary drill bit and use a allen head fine thread bolt and nut with red lock***e to locate perch.
     
  3. metalmike13
    Joined: May 13, 2006
    Posts: 355

    metalmike13
    Member
    from Glass City

    good call, however i already welded the damn thing in. im just wondering if after i have the arch taken out of my old spring if having welded that in will render the spring junk.
     
  4. DE SOTO
    Joined: Jan 20, 2006
    Posts: 3,857

    DE SOTO
    Member

    It may break... or it may not... It will break NEXT to the weld when it does break.

    You should get some other springs & drill with an allen as previously stated.

    Damn, Arent air bags fun ?
     
  5. hivolt76528
    Joined: Dec 27, 2005
    Posts: 61

    hivolt76528
    Member

    You possibly didn't do it any good , but then the past 50++ years haven't done it much good either -I wouldnt worry too much , but I would look to replace them anyway --years aren't kind to springs
     
  6. metalmike13
    Joined: May 13, 2006
    Posts: 355

    metalmike13
    Member
    from Glass City

    Has anyone ever welded the "***" on?? and if so did it fail, or work ok? The guy at the spring shop said the spring itself looked good, he just didn't like that i had welded it. I know this is probably a lost cause, just lookin for some light at the end of the tunnel that i just created!!
     
  7. pasadenahotrod
    Joined: Feb 13, 2007
    Posts: 11,772

    pasadenahotrod
    Member
    from Texas

    The only light at the end of that tunnel is a new set of springs. Possibility of breakage, probability of temper loss, all negatives whic should be heeded and new springs made or purchased.
     
  8. pitman
    Joined: May 14, 2006
    Posts: 5,148

    pitman

    I gather that these springs are semi-elliptic longitudinal type? How are you controlling torque that arrives at the rear end housing? Through these same leaves? I am less familiar w/airbag setups, but using just the main leaves as "control arms" and then introducing "untoward"
    stresses upon them...hmmmm.
     
  9. Flatdog
    Joined: Jan 31, 2003
    Posts: 1,285

    Flatdog
    Member Emeritus

    My bet it will break, every time when I was a kid, any time I put heat to tempered metal it broke with use.
     
  10. Unkl Ian
    Joined: Mar 29, 2001
    Posts: 13,509

    Unkl Ian

    Asking BEFORE you weld,is probably a better idea.
     
  11. Bluto
    Joined: Feb 15, 2005
    Posts: 5,113

    Bluto
    Member Emeritus

    IF IT BREAKS YOU WILL BE THE FIRST TO THE WRECK!!!!

    Please throw that away and do it correctly

    I have two springs break from age ...... It wasn't fun

    Almost went thru the front door at Joe Jost's one Friday afternoon :)
     
  12. lowriding 'lane
    Joined: Feb 14, 2006
    Posts: 58

    lowriding 'lane
    Member

    I'm not an expert by any means but i wouldn't trust welding on springs, just like i wouldn't trust heating coil springs. with all the stress from a monoleaf setup i'd be even more worried about the weld since those aren't strong even with a normal spring.... but if i were you i would not buy a new set of leaf springs, if you needed to replace them my .02 cents is just 4 link it and do it the right way the first time. and i'm not trying to bash you i've just been there, monoleaf works i did it in my fairlane but it gets soggy and scary real fast. like i said, your call just saying i'd spend the $$$ on a good 4 link (or even 3 link or trailing arms or something) instead of a weak monoleaf setup any day.

    frank
     
  13. Powerband
    Joined: Nov 10, 2004
    Posts: 542

    Powerband

    Spring welding isn't recommended but either is driving old cars - fast... :rolleyes: On the '61 right rear spring, I found the front eye had most of the "circle" broken off. Fabbed up a piece of steel in a circle and MIG'd to the broken eye. Two years later, I've bent the other side spring from wheel hoppin' launches but the welded side is fine...

    Powerband :cool:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]



    [​IMG]
     
  14. Chad s
    Joined: Oct 6, 2005
    Posts: 1,717

    Chad s
    Member

    A Masonry bit? How will that go through spring steel? I have drilled spring steel with HSS bits at low speeds, and it works, and I use Masonry bits several times a week at work, and I may be way off here, but I dont see how a masonry bit would ever "shave away" metal to drill a hole in steel.
     

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