Has anyone bridged an axle for a stronger housing? What I'm looking for is like what Currie does to the ford 9 inch across the back but I'm interested in a bridge across the top. Would this help strenghten the entire axle or be a waste of time? I've heard talk of this being done but have never seen it.

Ever seen Eric Floors front axle?
It looks like he used a piece of 2x4 :question: box steel and cut the shape out of it before welding it on.

I don't know if it'll show up better on your screen than mine (my monitor's getting a little dark.)

http://tigger.tmcom.com/~tsm1/scout/jpg/3_16_2002/pic569.JPG

Truss Pictures (http://tigger.tmcom.com/~tsm1/scout/jpg/1_7_2002/trusspics.html)

This is an under-axle.. it's stronger that way, but it is rock fodder..

http://tigger.tmcom.com/~tsm1/scout/jpg/1_7_2002/pic25.jpg


http://tigger.tmcom.com/~tsm1/scout/jpg/1_7_2002/pic23.jpg

A buddy in Bozeman made that truss for my racer. I'm tempted to truss the top of my axles in my trail rig, but it hasn't been a priority..

I was figuring on bridging across the top. It's worth a try I guess I'm still using the stock axles until I can get a set of gears for something else I've got around here. Maybe top and bottom but then it would take out the axle shaft (what the hell got spares) :D :D
BTW Who is Eric Floors?

how big is your rig that your really worried about bending the housing???


If your THAT concerned, build a new one with 1/2" tubes and be done with it... Look at how many guys GET IT AWN with D44's and don't bend the crap out of them.....


If it was a race truck (like tommy's), then yes, truss the sh*t out of it (under brace is good), if not, I *really* don't think you will have much of an issue.....



However, *I* would do it as Eric did. Some light box tubeing (say 0.125 or 0.095 wall) and conture it to fit the top. Then carfully weld it on as to not distort the crap out of the housing (weldings is a VERY powerfull force)

I said that I'm using the stock axles (Dana 27's) until I can afford to regear something else. The only other matched set I have is 331's and since I am still using the stock motor and worthless three speed I like my 488's
I have enough hood time to weld up a set of braces and not distort my material.

Harley,

You're going to blow apart the spider gears in the D27 before you need worry about bending the housing, believe me. Besides, if you truss over the top of the axle, you'll need to either do the box section like these guys are saying, or weld a solid thin plate between the tube and the "flange" (whatever you use as a rod) since of course the truss will be in compression up there so you need to watch out for LTB.

Erick Foor is owner of East Coast Scout parts. He runs (last i checked) stock D44's with 39.5 boggers. If you want a link to his website to see pictures of his shit, click here. (http://www.eastcoastscouts.com/skidmark.html)

click here (http://www.eastcoastscouts.com) for his main page.