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. |
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. |
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 |
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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 |
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!
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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. |
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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 |
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 |
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 |
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.
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Awesome work, love your welds!
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Beautiful work...Jim
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Nice work....Thanks for sharing the process. It's cool to see how you improved the set up.
Marc |
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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
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I would like to more pics when its done. I'm trying to decide which way i want to go with my new ride.
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Like everyone else said, great work!
Bubba |
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