rusted through spindle assembly-welded it up-Safe to drive?

[foxman]

while doing my ball joints I pounded at the layers of rust on the spindle (the cast part that the ball joints press into)
I knocked all the rust off and welded in a piece of steel in it's placeit seems to be solit for right now, but I'm taking it
up north for some trail use this weekend and want to know what kind of risk I'm taking. The rust part didn't seem to
affect th parts integrity because there is thicker steel around the edges of the casting where the rust was not so deep.
After 3 days on the road is shows no sighns of cracking... Anybody ever break one of these?
btw ball joints are a pain in the a$$!!!


thanks,

Jeremy /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[camiswelding]

Any welding on a steering part I would consider critical.. so it comes down to your understanding of metalurgy and how good a weldor you really are....
welding on a cast part has many problems... it embrittles the casting...there are ways to remedy this but you have already completed the task.... and I do not suggest welding on a spindle to begin with... cast metals do not weld well and usually require more specific hi nickle rod/wire for joining...
My opinion... find a new one and then you have NO WORRIES...
cam

 

[HarryH3]

The ball joints press into the steering knuckle. The spindle bolts to the knuckle. It sounds like a new knuckle should be in your (very near) future. What axle do you have? 10-bolt? Dana 44? I've got a perfect 10-bolt that I could take apart for ya. Stuff doesn't rust around here. /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

 

[78GMC1/2TON4x4]

i picked up a new spindle for 25 bucks at a local 4x4 junk yard /forums/images/graemlins/truck.gif

 

[R72K5]

4x4 junkyard ? a yard for 4x4's only ? odd.

good luck

 

[gm guy]

Not odd Cool!

 

[Muddytazz]

You talking about Atlas Truck Parts?