I have a 79 HP D44 with the cast wedges for the radius arms. I want to go leaf sprung instead of using the radius arms and coils. Is this possible? Would the cast be strong enough to weld perches to? Would i need to heat the cast up before i weld to it and then slowly cool it down or what. I searched on this and i found that some people think its ok but at the same time people said hell no. So what do you think? Any help would be appricated. Thanks

I have a 79 HP D44 with the cast wedges for the radius arms. I want to go leaf sprung instead of using the radius arms and coils. Is this possible? Would the cast be strong enough to weld perches to? Would i need to heat the cast up before i weld to it and then slowly cool it down or what. I searched on this and i found that some people think its ok but at the same time people said hell no. So what do you think? Any help would be appricated. Thanks

I'll vote no.

2% vote yes.

i vote 'hell no' to leaf springs

so if i'm going to do leafs then i would need to get a different axle or re tube the one i have?

On the other hand has anyone tried this. Has anyone tried welding to the cast?

i vote "stay home".

x2 on hell no.

Why not use the radius arms? My buddy used them on his cherokee but he cut the radius arms off about 10" from the axle, cut a groove in some dom, hammered said dom onto radius arm. On the other side of dom he just had a hiem joint to the skid plate. Ill try to find some pics. Works great, rides good on the trail and flexes amazing. Just something to think about

Or if your dead set on leafs get yourself another axle.

so if i'm going to do leafs then i would need to get a different axle or re tube the one i have?

On the other hand has anyone tried this. Has anyone tried welding to the cast?
Yes I've seen it done, even posted here on Pirate.


Did you know that axle has way thinner tubes that were not make for leaf spring mounts?
Keep the knuckles out, and find a 73-77 Ford 1/2 axle.

Hint follow sig link.

or a 3/4 ton axle

x2 on hell no.

Why not use the radius arms? My buddy used them on his cherokee but he cut the radius arms off about 10" from the axle, cut a groove in some dom, hammered said dom onto radius arm. On the other side of dom he just had a hiem joint to the skid plate. Ill try to find some pics. Works great, rides good on the trail and flexes amazing. Just something to think about

Or if your dead set on leafs get yourself another axle.

Here are the arms he is talking about. Like he said, they work great. I am moving over to a 3 link setup when I put the 60 under it but the radius arms work better then I expected.