Welded 2-piece axles?

[Razorfish]

Can AMC20 2-piece axles be welded instead of buying replacements? I'm guessing the welding could interfere with bearings so I'm not holding my breathe on this one.

If yes then a zero-cost killer AMC20 can be created. Minus the cost and/or time of the work. Option gear ratio change is a different story.

- Homemade truss.
- Tubes welded to center.
- Welded gears.
- Welded axles.

Yes, no, thoughts?

 

[coldair]

Ok I know I'm going to get flamed for this but we have done this on four wheeler and has held up really good. But I don't know if I would trust this on highways.

 

[Cheepjeep85]

Yeah it can be done, I'm sure but as you said strength is the issue. Maybe leave the castle nut torqued down weld around it real nice and thick then weld the top of the shaft to the nut. Make it all real solid, and it should take more abuse than just the nut holding it on. Tig of course would be the best way to go, then you could weld the back side with little to no seam. It would be ugly as sin. Plus if you weld the nut on you don't really have to worry about the axle flange coming completely off, just breaking loose and spinning on the shaft which is what typically happens anyway. Yeah I've given it alot of thought. But decided to go with one piece shafts.

Droooiiddd 2

 

[Old Dog]

can it be done sure, would I do it No. but than I would not weld the spiders either. (I know a little bit about metallurgy)
As far as the truss and welding the tubes, go for it.

 

[Sasquach]

If you weld the hub to the axle you will never be able to replace the wheel bearings.

 

[diddy2003]

I guess it could be done, but I don't think I ever would based on piece of mind alone. I actually just installed a set of these on mine:
Superior Axle and Gear EV20L - Superior Axle & Gear Alloy Axleshafts for 82-86 Jeep® CJ with AMC 20 - Quadratec

As someone else said, I just don't think I would trust is as much and I wouldn't want to be driving around thinking it might fail on me.

 

[Razorfish]

If you weld the hub to the axle you will never be able to replace the wheel bearings.

Wouldn't that be the same with aftermarket one-piece axles, or possibly there's something I don't understand?

I guess it could be done, but I don't think I ever would based on piece of mind alone. I actually just installed a set of these on mine:
Superior Axle and Gear EV20L - Superior Axle & Gear Alloy Axleshafts for 82-86 Jeep® CJ with AMC 20 - Quadratec

As someone else said, I just don't think I would trust is as much and I wouldn't want to be driving around thinking it might fail on me.

Making it more weak by welding is something I thought of. However $275 is a lot of money for me. But then the hobby is not cheap either. I just see a lot of DYI welding with offroading and wonding if this would be feasible.

 

[Sasquach]

Your 2 piece axle has the bearing shoulder on the inner side of the axle and the 1 piece is reversed therefore the bearings are installed from the outside on a 2 peice and from the inside on a flanged axle.

 

[Razorfish]

Your 2 piece axle has the bearing shoulder on the inner side of the axle and the 1 piece is reversed therefore the bearings are installed from the outside on a 2 peice and from the inside on a flanged axle.

Awesome. Thanks for the explanation.

 

[diddy2003]

Making it more weak by welding is something I thought of. However $275 is a lot of money for me. But then the hobby is not cheap either. I just see a lot of DYI welding with offroading and wonding if this would be feasible.

I hear you. They are pretty expensive. There are some cheaper versions, but not by much.

1981-86 Jeep CJ Wide Track One Piece Axle Kit | eBay

eBay: cj one piece axle

 

[IOPort51]

No matter what the current wisdom is the AMC 2 piece axle is not going to fall apart at any minute. If you are going to start running 35s and trying to climb phone polls they could become a problem. If they do become a problem they will more than likely let you know you have a problem before catastrophic failure occurs.

Take your time and do it right, When you start doing a half way job you will end up on the back of no place wishing you had a cell signal to call a wrecker. Do not go out of your way to be one of the next generation of POs that we all make fun of.

 

[Sasquach]

No matter what the current wisdom is the AMC 2 piece axle is not going to fall apart at any minute. If you are going to start running 35s and trying to climb phone polls they could become a problem. If they do become a problem they will more than likely let you know you have a problem before catastrophic failure occurs.

Take your time and do it right, When you start doing a half way job you will end up on the back of no place wishing you had a cell signal to call a wrecker. Do not go out of your way to be one of the next generation of POs that we all make fun of.

Well said!
FYI When I did replace my 2 piece axles just for kicks I thought I would seperate the hub and axle, took an act of god...lot's of blue flame...and a large hammer. That said failures with stock powerplants are related to LOOSE HUB NUTS in my opinion.
Torque your nuts!

 

[IOPort51]

And I think we all can agree that it is best to have your nuts torqued by a professional or at least a talented amateur.

 

[Razorfish]

I appreciate all the feedback and expert opinions. Just wanted to clarify a tiny thing, by doing it myself in no way did I mean to do a half way job. I'm not that type of person nor do I condone this type of work. In fact my OCD prevents it. From the great info in this thread it sounds like it might not be a good idea and will shelve the idea. Thanks.

 

[Cheepjeep85]

And I think we all can agree that it is best to have your nuts torqued by a professional or at least a talented amateur.

I second that

Sent from my A100 using Tapatalk 2

 

[BusaDave9]

As Sasquach and others have said a welded OEM axle isn't repairable.
The one piece axle has a hole in the flange so you can access the bearing retainer bolts. If you weld a 2 piece axle you will have a hard time removing it.

 

[73CJ]

Pay me now or pay me later.

Not a good plan to weld it.