Looking for good tig welder near White Lake to weld axle tubes

Rice Eatr

Rice Eatr

Forum Member
Does anyone know a good welder or shop that can tig weld axle tubes? Long story short, I need to get my axle tubes welded to the housing. I just had my axle built and this wasn't done, (5) weeks late... Hoping I can have them done assembled w/o warping. I am really hoping that I don't have to tear it back down.

Yes I know this should be done before assembly.
 
I would tear them down and have a true bar put through the housing to be on the safe side...
 
You need a jig, and I highly recommend a fixture plate as well. DO NOT let anyone just slide the tubes in and even start welding without having the correct bar and pucks secured in the housing. It will be unusable in the end and need to be completely cut apart again.
 
If it's a 9" style housing just pull the 3rd member out. If it's a 8.8, 12 bolt, Dana, etc then you need to take the guts out of the center.
 
The tubes should actually be welded first to the housing, then the housing ends are welded to the assembly laston with a jig with alignment bar. I have a feeling any shop that you call might not weld what you have, you might have to buy new tubes and new housing ends and have everything welded in correct process to ensure good alignment. You can box what you have up and send to moser or strange, they actually have really fast turnaround. Locally i'd try skinny kid race cars too. I wouldn't skimp on the rear end housing, can lead to bigger problems when you are putting the power down.

Best of luck.
 
Thanks everyone! Got it welded by an old hot rod fabricator near my house. He did (6) small increments around each tube to keep the heat down. Time for paint.
 
I've seen plenty of housing over the years that were "professionally" welded with a jig..... Some were so crooked they looked like a bow.
The smallest of weld on the tube bends it. (Its actually how they get straightened...small bead on the tube will bend the tube quickly. )
If you did not use a ground bar made for checking alignment it will be crooked and as such your wheels will be as well, vehicle will drag, tires will wear.
Also Welding cast to steel tubes must be done using Nickle rod.
 
Detroit Gearbox said:
I've seen plenty of housing over the years that were "professionally" welded with a jig..... Some were so crooked they looked like a bow.
The smallest of weld on the tube bends it. (Its actually how they get straightened...small bead on the tube will bend the tube quickly. )
If you did not use a ground bar made for checking alignment it will be crooked and as such your wheels will be as well, vehicle will drag, tires will wear.
Also Welding cast to steel tubes must be done using Nickle rod.
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When I got home I measured it with a long straight edge and a scale off the cover face and it isn't bent front to back. I will set it up on blocks and see if it is bent up or down.
 
I guarantee it is. In 10yrs I e never not seen one bend. That's why you weld in the housing ends last with the correct bar and pick setup. Good luck.
 
Rice Eatr said:
I appreciate your concern, if it was bent/warped it would be different.
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I understand your car your rules... I just want to show you what happens when it's not in a jig... We thought it was going to be good on this XJ build when we tig welded this truss onto this 14 bolt rear end... We were dead wrong...

It was welded by the best hands down and still warped...

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You don't check to see if it is warped from the outside. Hell I've seen rear ends where the tubes were slightly bent/angled but housing end to housing end it was dead nuts straight through. That's what really matters. The only way to check for straightness is through the rear end internally. It does not matter one single bit who welds it. A few tacks is enough to warp and bend stuff.
 
Of all the housing I have had brought to me over the years to build, as a standard rule I would take them to Kevin McKenzie up on 29 mile near romeo plank to have them checked..... he would show me how bad they were and correct them in most cases while I waited (every housing I took to him was not straight).
I've never seen anyone as good as Kevin for fabrication & housing modifications (And welding)
Address: 16926 29 Mile Rd, Ray, MI 48096
Phone: (586) 336-9833
 
Would for sure get the ends cut back off and re-welded. I don't think the housing is ruined, but I would bet money that it moved. Leave them now that they are welded, but cut the ends off it and re-weld them in a jig.

Most of the tubes are crooked after welding anyhow, as long as the ends are straight it will be OK.

I definitely wouldn't use it as is.
 
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