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-   -   Rear suspension rework (https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=750557)

tinydb84 11-15-2017 08:27 PM

Rear suspension rework
 
A guy through instagram contacted me about redoing his rear suspension. It was a local shop truck he picked up and didn't realize how bad the suspension was. I don't think I am going to do much more than the rear on the truck so I'm not going to start a project thread on it but the pictures are pretty cool so I figured I'd share. I tried to bang it out in a weekend with his help but it is taking a bit longer than originally planned. Hopefully should be done by this weekend.

Here is the truck:
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4573/...46d865ee_b.jpg
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4525/...58f02f1c_b.jpg

And here are the problems
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4570/...77b69226_b.jpg
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4569/...c30c966c_b.jpg
All the suspension tabs were 1/8'' thick, bent, and cracked.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4538/...b3102597_b.jpg
Piles of parts...Check out that panhard bar, 2 link, and offset bag mounts.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4583/...8003d64d_b.jpg
And they welded the two link to the axle perches, which were welded on one inch off to the side.

tinydb84 11-15-2017 08:27 PM

Re: Rear suspension rework
 
Then I noticed they didn't weld up one side of the notch. It clearly wasn't prepped to be welded so we ground off one of the welds.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4549/...839fdfde_b.jpg
and we have no penetration
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4560/...e7a218f6_b.jpg
I'll be grinding out a grove to weld it properly.

tinydb84 11-15-2017 08:28 PM

Re: Rear suspension rework
 
Removed all the offending areas.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4518/...3632423f_b.jpg
Bought a universal 3 link from AVS. Nice product! Decided to run a bag on bar set up so I welded on the trusses.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4551/...748cc7e5_b.jpg
Welded on the axle tabs
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4566/...b0ece513_b.jpg20171111_133809
Welded the tabs to the differential. Preheated, used nickel rod, and peened it with an air chisel. That's why the weld looks so odd.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4565/...2f8baa85_b.jpg

tinydb84 11-15-2017 08:29 PM

Re: Rear suspension rework
 
On to the frame side
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4584/...4acd269c_b.jpg
Tabs on
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4530/...38aa805a_b.jpg
Suspension in!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4558/...019018e3_b.jpg

JohnJ@RideTech 11-16-2017 09:16 AM

Re: Rear suspension rework
 
Nice! Glad to see you got it all straightened out. No doubt that original install was a little sketchy and unsafe. Good job!

bs46488 11-17-2017 02:31 PM

Re: Rear suspension rework
 
Nice looking fix. Those are much nicer looking welds!

It's scary to think that an actual "shop" was responsible for the original suspension design.

tinydb84 11-20-2017 01:27 PM

Re: Rear suspension rework
 
Fixed all the notches
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4565/...161c3854_b.jpg
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4586/...02c90c5e_b.jpg

tinydb84 11-20-2017 01:31 PM

Re: Rear suspension rework
 
I had originally planned on doing bag over bar for this set up but the original builder welded the notches in funky (and not in the same spots...) so I didn't have enough space to fit the bags on the bars.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4552/...07c921d8_b.jpg
Ended up with a bag over axle set up.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4575/...16840703_b.jpg

tinydb84 11-20-2017 01:33 PM

Re: Rear suspension rework
 
I didn't want to build a bridge over the axle so I decided to weld the tabs to the pumpkin. I bought some Nickel99 rod (holy **** that's expensive). Preheated the housing, welded it with the nickel rod, and peened it with an air hammer as it cooled. No cracks! It should hold up just fine but if it ever cracks Ill build a bridge and fix it.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4583/...450a3af4_b.jpg

tinydb84 11-20-2017 01:40 PM

Re: Rear suspension rework
 
Mounted the shocks to the upper bag mounts and ran them off the bars to make sure there was enough travel.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4564/...c7def09b_b.jpg
Ran a cross member along the backside to tie to the bag mounts.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4525/...b4dc7995_b.jpg
and the finished product
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4562/...2829d144_b.jpg

DieselSJ 11-20-2017 01:45 PM

Re: Rear suspension rework
 
Noob welder question - what is the purpose of peening the welds? I don't think I have ever seen that done.

tinydb84 11-20-2017 01:53 PM

Re: Rear suspension rework
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnJ@RideTech (Post 8083572)
Nice! Glad to see you got it all straightened out. No doubt that original install was a little sketchy and unsafe. Good job!

Thank you sir. He has a young daughter he wants to drive with so that old work had to go.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bs46488 (Post 8084550)
Nice looking fix. Those are much nicer looking welds!

It's scary to think that an actual "shop" was responsible for the original suspension design.

Just to clarify, the shop he got it from didn't do the work. They just painted a logo on it and drove it around. The original bag job was done in Texas. Not sure by who though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DieselSJ (Post 8086590)
Noob welder question - what is the purpose of peening the welds? I don't think I have ever seen that done.

It is done as the welds cool in order do decrease the stress and reduce the likelihood of the welds cracking. Mild and cast steel have different cooling rates and it is really common for welds on cast steel to crack.

Advanced Design 11-20-2017 03:15 PM

Re: Rear suspension rework
 
Awesome work, love your welds!

oldman3 11-20-2017 08:31 PM

Re: Rear suspension rework
 
Beautiful work...Jim

DieselSJ 11-21-2017 12:28 PM

Re: Rear suspension rework
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by tinydb84 (Post 8086600)
It is done as the welds cool in order do decrease the stress and reduce the likelihood of the welds cracking. Mild and cast steel have different cooling rates and it is really common for welds on cast steel to crack.

Well I learned something today. Thank you.

youngrodder 11-21-2017 05:07 PM

Re: Rear suspension rework
 
Nice work....Thanks for sharing the process. It's cool to see how you improved the set up.

Marc

mongocanfly 11-21-2017 10:35 PM

Re: Rear suspension rework
 
your doing nice work...WOW...that was a mess..just when you think you've seen it all...a tractor 3rd link for a panhardbar?...wow

dec010974 11-28-2017 02:12 PM

Re: Rear suspension rework
 
I would like to more pics when its done. I'm trying to decide which way i want to go with my new ride.

tinydb84 11-28-2017 02:47 PM

Re: Rear suspension rework
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by dec010974 (Post 8092273)
I would like to more pics when its done. I'm trying to decide which way i want to go with my new ride.

Those are all the pics I got. He took it home last weekend. You can follow his instagram thought @yosoyjames

1957 Chief 12-04-2017 09:33 PM

Re: Rear suspension rework
 
Like everyone else said, great work!

Bubba


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