Welding Axle Tubes

[EasyDoesIt]

I've lined up a date for my 5.13 gear swap and figured while they were in there replacing seals I might as well have them throw a couple beads on the axle tubes.

My concern is twisting an axle tube with 37s (maybe bigger in the future) under heavy acceleration on or Offroad.

I'm not ready to go all in on a truss but figured a couple beads are better than the factory plug welds.

Is it worth it?

Should I have them hit both front and rear axles or just the front?

This is on a 2018.

[DamageWagon]

Really no point in welding the tubes unless you truss it, with the exception being if you had a diesel and you crawl with it. Otherwise, I’ve not seen power wagons spin tubes. Either do a full truss or leave it be.

This is what spinning tubes looks like, under a manual transmission Cummins. Cause was excessive tire bounce, and a manual transmission. Power Wagons tend to get away with a lot more.

[Reloaderguy]

My understanding is most of the PW tubes spin when the axle bottoms out against the bump stops. The order I went was truss, hydro, gears. I don't think you'll ever be sorry if you truss the front end.

[DamageWagon]

Yeah really no downside to trussing the front correctly.

Bending the axle is somewhat common if you push the truck hard. Twisting the tubes really is rare. Hence, if you’re going to weld the tubes, just truss it. You’re already doing half the work.

[Idaho RC]

Wow! That picture really tells the story!

[EasyDoesIt]

Thanks for the feedback guys. For $100-$200 I figured it couldnt hurt but if its not worth the money and effort than I'll pass until I'm ready to go full retard with 40s and a supercharger.

I'll put the money back in King 2.5" piggy bank.

[Colibri]

I agree with the above about the front axle, I’d only weld the tubes as part of trussing it.

As far as the rear goes though, if you’re sincere about a supercharger and 40’s down the line you may want to weld the tubes back there to keep the pumpkin from pointing skyward should the loose nut behind the wheel get out of hand lol

[RustyPW]

My tubes are welded, but not trussed.

[cb1987]

i wouldnt think a stock 6.4 has nearly enough huevos to break plug welds. i wonder how much the truss is even needed unless you go full retard and get stupid. i guess over building components isnt a bad idea just to be on the safe side

[RustyPW]

In the past. Some of the plug welds had hardly any penetration on the tubes. And you would see seepage at the plug welds.

[DamageWagon]

It’s not really that the engine doesn’t have the power, it’s axle hop and trans slippage. An auto trans, low rotating mass engine, and vehicle with a lot of articulation is a safe candidate. Versus a diesel, manual trans, with aftermarket control arms and 3500 leafs, is a dangerous candidate that got a lot of axle hop and went bang.

Welding the tubes prevents them front turning. Really not an issue on a power wagon unless you’re driving poorly. Trussing the axle prevents the axle from bending from a hard bottom-out. I think there’s been a point of confusion in here about the difference of welding the tubes vs trussing the axle, which also includes welding the tubes as a component.

[cb1987]

ya when you get the vehicle hopping thats when stuff breaks. especially if components arent beefed up accordingly

[DarylB]

Really no point in welding the tubes unless you truss it, with the exception being if you had a diesel and you crawl with it. Otherwise, I’ve not seen power wagons spin tubes. Either do a full truss or leave it be.

This is what spinning tubes looks like, under a manual transmission Cummins. Cause was excessive tire bounce, and a manual transmission. Power Wagons tend to get away with a lot more.

IMG_3232.JPG

I need royalties every time you tell this story After a lot of thinking about the day prior to behind the rocks I'm going to attribute this to several bottom outs between the campsite & a few dunes. My bumpstop was loose on that side after getting home, signs that it bottomed out. You know it's all fixed and pretty now

[DamageWagon]

Really no point in welding the tubes unless you truss it, with the exception being if you had a diesel and you crawl with it. Otherwise, I’ve not seen power wagons spin tubes. Either do a full truss or leave it be.

This is what spinning tubes looks like, under a manual transmission Cummins. Cause was excessive tire bounce, and a manual transmission. Power Wagons tend to get away with a lot more.

IMG_3232.JPG

I need royalties every time you tell this story After a lot of thinking about the day prior to behind the rocks I'm going to attribute this to several bottom outs between the campsite & a few dunes. My bumpstop was loose on that side after getting home, signs that it bottomed out. You know it's all fixed and pretty now

I will ask royalties for spreading your name

I didn’t see your axle bent, I saw it pulled apart. It was impressive, and cool, and even cooler because it wasn’t mine.