Axel truss, need your help?

[rookieshooter]

I am thinking about making an axel truss on an 8.8 rear and hopefully extending the life of the bearings with the larger tires I plan to put on. I am looking at the axel trusses made by James Duff. They are under the housing. This set up looks like it would snag on a lotta stuff. Especially after i made my shock mounts not to hang low. My question is, I want to make a set that goes over the top and achieve the same results. Or is it that over the top does not prevent axel flexing? I am thinking that the forces applied that it would be bettter below. But if you reinforced it more on top that it should work? Then again I dont know.

 

[james t]

Over the top would work fine. The hard part would be welding to the center section. Might be better to weld it to the tubes and have it bolt on at the diff cover for the center part.

 

[rookieshooter]

That sounds good, there are two existing tabs on the tube, used to be for sway bar. I could weld to that, and the do what u said to the top. I leaving now to pick up some material at a friends house and then start the job. thanks

 

[rookieshooter]

Over the top would work fine. The hard part would be welding to the center section. Might be better to weld it to the tubes and have it bolt on at the diff cover for the center part.

James, just finished um up. I really did not want to have any bolts that might not hold or work loose. I went to my friends house who had some steel stock that we used. I told him about what you said about the diff. I have never welded on cast iron housings. He brought over his welder and the right rods, I think he said nickle. At any rate. We used a 5/8 dia. x 17.5 long solid steel rod, that went from top of housing (welded) to the left side spring perch SOA welded. Near the middle we made a triangular section...it looks like an inverted V out of two pieces of 1/2 seamless steel tubing. Welded the the one point to the underside of the 5/8 rod and then the two points to the axle. Same on Rt. except shorter. I'll have picks tommorrow. I'll put these under Off Road Projects. thanks for your input.