Just laid me hands on a replacement rear axle for the van (don't ask).
It's off a saloon (insert own comment here) and looks to be in good shape... but has these weld lines on the back, behind and on either side of the diff bulge.
The pics show one side but the same welds are on the other side too.
Is this normal for a saloon axle? I've only ever seen van ones before.
Grateful for any advice/experience!
wibble
Last edited by wibble_puppy on Mon May 19, 2008 12:29 pm, edited 2 times in total.
had some on my low milegae grey van, but will take a look on friday, but not that bad, mine were in a straight line, yours look like a V hmm not sure, will take a look
If the welds look pretty neat I would accept it as factory stuff, it figures at that point a triangular piece would be appropriate if the flaring of the axle halves to join to the centre was thought to be too much stretching of the metal. Also it would constitute a major clean-up of the casing to effect such a repair weld; and how would it get damaged at that point anyway to need sorting. Well I think I've convinced myself, how about you? You could always remove the diff and look at the casing from the inside to see the finish, you can usually tell if someone has messed about!
Are you sure the axle is cast? I thought it was fabricated from a number of pressings. The triangles might have been added to work around a production problem.
If they look like they have been welded to a professional standard I wouldn't worry about it...
Alex Holden - http://www.alexholden.net/
If it doesn't work, you're not hitting it with a big enough hammer.
well the welds are fairly continuous but quite lumpy and rather irregular, like a long blob of chewing gum. I don't know enough about welding to know whether they are factory standard, only that they look solid.
I've realised that dopily I linked to the thumbnail of the pic, on photobucket, instead of the full-size photo . Here's the larger version:
That's a non factory weld, looks like stick welding to me. If you have a warranty with the axle then keep it but make the seller aware of your concerns now.
The problem with a re welded axle ,if not welded correctly is that it will easily warp with the heat generated.
If it were me I'd take it back and swap for one that you are 100% happy with.
I've seen many cases with this weld pattern but with factory welds, as to why it could be re welded, well the casing looks a bit irregular on its surface which could indicate that thick rust has been removed with a grinder and the weld re instated, or that the weld could have split (unlikely ,but possible).
Without seeing the axle in the flesh, we are just guessing. Might be useful to jig the tube to see if its straight.
Easiest option though is to take it back and get one that your happy with.
Should there be a clonking noise when the end of the diff (universal joint flange) is wiggled from side to side? (if it makes a difference, there's no oil in it)
thats a very clean axle- the ones on my cars are covered in oil/ dirt waxoyl and you cannot see any welds. Apart from"Dibble the project choptop resto" I've just had a look at the welds on the rear axle and it looks the same, a seam down the length of the axle on each side and a welded triangle next to the diff part of the casing.
Therefore, apart from a few blobs, it looks normal to me!
; so you've seen these lines before, then? on many axles?
. Here's the larger version:
