What size steel have you guys used for your rod end mounting tabs? Is 1/4" enough or is 3/8" just overkill? I have both so I am just trying to figure out which is better and which has held up well.

Thanks.

------EDIT-----

For a heavy a$$ Cruiser with D60s.


----end EDIT----

For a Rockwell or a d30?

I guess that kind of info would have helped.

------EDIT-----

For a heavy a$$ Cruiser with D60s.


----end EDIT----

IMO If engineered right 1/4 is fine. Don't substitute thickness for poor design.

1/4" is overkill, but if those are you're choices, then go 1/4.
It dose'nt matter if it's a rockwell or a dana 30.

3/8" is just plain silly
ericfilar@fatcity

Originally posted by FatCity
It dose'nt matter if it's a rockwell or a dana 30.


So unsprung weight has no bearing on how beefy things need to be?

Originally posted by Old Scout

So unsprung weight has no bearing on how beefy things need to be?

I'll agree with that to a point, as long as we're talking 2.5 tons and dana 30's

ericfilar@fatcity

Unsprung weight would only matter if your worried about the body of the vehicle stopping suddenly and the axles keep going.

1/4" is more than enough.

Yeah, 1/4" is actually overkill. 1/8" would work.

The biggest reason we use "thicker" plate on bracketry is because of hitting them on rocks and to be stupid overkill.

overkill...THAT'S WHAT IM TALKING ABOUT.

CJ

I'm always amazed at just how thick 1/4" really is.

3/8" is gonzo. A dude I was helpin' just did his one tons in all 3/8" and it was a LOT of work to cut/shape all the brackets. Plus, 3/8" gets expensive.

I wouldn't go less than 1/4" for the sole reason that it's a good thickness to weld. Any thinner and I (being the amateur welder I am) would have a hard time keeping from blowing holes in it in the process of getting a good weld.

http://pages.prodigy.net/coolmank/pics/cmksjeep/flatxmember/lowershock.jpg

cm "quarter inch ... quarter mile ... coincidence?" k

Originally posted by cmk
I wouldn't go less than 1/4" for the sole reason that it's a good thickness to weld. Any thinner and I (being the amateur welder I am) would have a hard time keeping from blowing holes in it in the process of getting a good weld.



Try a spool of .023 in your mig. I'm amazed at the difference from .030 it made when working with the thin stuff.

You can actually punch holes in .250? Try vertical up .250 to galvanized .095 with 6010. Stick's the only way to go :)

I would say it depends on where the bracket is-if it's under the axle then I wouldn't hesitate to do 3/8". Of course I'm a sick bastard so take it FWIW.

Squash

In the new 4 Wheel Drive and Sport Utility they used 3/16 brackets to hang dana 60's on their project "Itch". Either that or 1/4" would work great IMHO. Original Jeep spring hangars are like 1/8" and they don't break (very often) with dana 60's.

Squash, how many amps is the "big welder" rated for?

You wouldn't know what size wire is in there too, would ya'?

cmk