Welding to torsion axle

[AK_F250]

I got volunteered to put a torsion axle under a trailer with a spring axle. At first I thought nothing of it, just burn a few new brackets on the plasma table and drill a couple holes. Then I remembered that torsion axles are filled with rubber...

Can I weld to it without creating an underground coal fire that'll smolder for centuries? The factory brackets are too wide for the frame rails on this thing, but I could probably come up with something that could weld to the trailer and bolt to them.

 

[SLOWPOKE693]

I wouldn't weld to them.

 

[Vinman]

Can you modify the trailer frame to accept the existing torsion axle mounts?
Or make a mini sub-frame, bolt to the axle and bolt to the trailer frame.

 

[YotaAtieToo]

I don't think the rubber goes from one end to the other.

How far in do you need to weld on the tube?

Edit: I think I'm wrong. Looking at Google images, the rubber does seem to go almost to the middle. I was picturing the tubeless ones and figured, the tube just connected 2 of them, but I guess thats a different style.

Funny how everyone seems to love torsion axles, my buddy works at a fab/trailer place and told me he would never own a torsion axle, they are constantly replacing them when they wear out.

 

[YotaAtieToo]

something that could weld to the trailer and bolt to them.

I'm guessing that's why the brackets are there

 

[Tiha]

Yes, weld them on. Not a big deal like you think.

tack in place.

Weld one side, let cool, weld the other.

The rubber does not go back into the axle that far. It is also not normal rubber. Much harder to melt.

 

[Benny]

I had to fabricate and weld a bracket on one side of my torsion axle. I welded a half inch at a time and let it cool. Seemed to work fine.

 

[2big bronco]

Bonus is you will probably never know how much it melted since its inside the tube

 

[arse_sidewards]

It is also not normal rubber. Much harder to melt.

There's two kinds of rubber. Rubber that melts then burns and rubber that goes straight to burning. Neither is going to appreciate welding on the tube it's in.

 

[sdmuleman]

What does the axle manufacturer say? I'm betting it's don't weld.

Make a bracket or framing on the trailer to mate with the axle.

I wouldn't be too worried about setting the rubber on fire as I would be heat damage too the rubber that's invisible from the outside.... sooner or later it will fail going down the road and put your trailer on the ground.

 

[TRINDU]

Just burn them in an inch at a time, itll be fine.

Funny how everyone seems to love torsion axles, my buddy works at a fab/trailer place and told me he would never own a torsion axle, they are constantly replacing them when they wear out.

Never been a fan. Only thing I have with torsion is a stock trailer. It rides rough and is always carrying a tire. The suspension/tires have little to no travel.

 

[Muckin_Slusher]

I've welded them before, but I was careful about not much heat all at once. I think I was misting the weld with water to help cool faster.

 

[arse_sidewards]

II think I was misting the weld with water to help cool faster.

That's a textbook way to make the weld and HAZ brittle.

 

[2big bronco]

That's a textbook way to make the weld and HAZ brittle.

Ehhh, my unlimited thickness wire test I dunked in water after every pass and it had no problem in the bend test

 

[arse_sidewards]

Ehhh, my unlimited thickness wire test I dunked in water after every pass and it had no problem in the bend test

For joints in the field where you're working with less than ideal conditions I really don't like to add any unnecessary shittyness. Sure you can probably get away with it but I wouldn't want to make a habit out of it. We both know you can get away with a lot on test plates because everything else is perfect.