Weld strength and failure?

[Tink]

Just wondering, how strong would you consider a weld? Would you trust a welded steering shaft - if the ends of both pieces were made covex - to a point, then joined by filling the space w/ weld?

How about for body mount brackets? Would you trust them if they were welded to the frame?

[rentedmule]

I had body mounts welded onto my '84 yota and they held up fine to alot of abuse, in fact the rest of the frame broke around them. the steering shaft would probably be fine but I'd consider putting a sleeve over the joint and welding that on too.

[Mikz86TA]

Most of the time if the weld is properly done, it will never tear. Failures are usually around the weld and could be due from too high of a temp for the gague metal causing the metal ,not the weld, to fatigue. Or like soldering wires, if you just glob on solder and not melt it into the copper strands, you get a cold-solder joint that will easily brek loose. Same as welding. Bond the metals, dont glob welds.

[neo71665]

lol, I think you saw my post somewhere else. Are the ends not welded on at the factory? are body mounts not welded on from the factory? Like Mikz86TA said, it deals more with how the weld was done than the weld itself. I wouldn't take a steering shaft to some yahoo that just bought a $100 welder off of a truck to do but I would trust myself to weld one.

[Tink]

LOL. Yup, you are right - you did! Just gathering ammo, so to speak...

Driveshafts are welded and if you are worried about a steering shaft, think about how much more torque and force and driveshaft takes...

[Mikz86TA]

Steering shafts are usually solid rods. If thats the part Im thinking youre referring to.

[Tink]

On one of my steering shafts, it was lengthened... (from the S10's orginial shaft and a shorter shaft with u-joints) the ends of both pieces were made covex - to a point, then joined by filling the space w/ weld - welded, ground and checked, welded, ground and checked until the space between was filled flush with the shaft. I drove and wheeled the Blazer with this shaft in it for a year - no problems. Just took the shaft out to remove the motor and it still looks good.

[csl2006]

the steering shaft should be fine. I'd either arc it with 7018 and groove it out and multipass it or if you have a Mig/Mag I'd run it over 24amps so you'd be doing some spray transfer and getting some heat in that puppy. It should hold up pretty good though.

[Black Knight]

I would trust welds. Depending on who does them. We strength tested and ICAR weld I did during testing. The metal snapped before my weld broke. Metal snapped at 2600 lbs.

[the fabricator]

i welded driveshafts before and steering shafts...easy.

the best way to do a steering shaft is find a piece of pipe that will slide over the rod. drill holes on either end of the pipe and plug weld it. then weld along the ends of the pipe. < this way you know your shaft is striaght.:)

plus makes making the shaft longer alot easier.

[bespurcell]

i welded driveshafts before and steering shafts...easy.

the best way to do a steering shaft is find a piece of pipe that will slide over the rod. drill holes on either end of the pipe and plug weld it. then weld along the ends of the pipe. < this way you know your shaft is striaght.:)

plus makes making the shaft longer alot easier.
I like being able to make the shaft longer.:D

[the fabricator]

I like being able to make the shaft longer.:D

are we talking about the same kind of shaft? im talking about the steering shaft not the shaft in your pants> :boner smily:

lol:rolleyes:

[Black Knight]

I've never had to think about extending a steering shaft but chris has it right. That pipe method would work great. Im learning some good things now.