Modifying a posi case bearing cap Quest?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,131
Likes: 106
From: laingsburg MI
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Modifying a posi case bearing cap Quest?
Greetings, sorry if this is a dumb question, but here goes.
I have the diff. out of my car & it checks out ok for now. I would like to upgrade to larger bearing caps, screw and a blue print, but that aint gonna happen right now. Sooooo I got to wondering.
Is it possible to arc weld a bead or two down the lenght of the posi case bearing cap to improve it's strength? It is bolted in place to limit distortion & a pre-heat with a torch for the cast iron per rule of thumb.
I am a hack welder, but don't have knowledge in the heat treating & metal fatique area
This would be a crutch fix until the tom's billet upgrade could be installed.
Or, since I am using a dual mount spring, I have thought about machining a flat area on the diff. cover & installing an insert & screw to make for a positive stop against the cap, similar to an after market cover on a regular diff.
If this is ridiculous, please keep it straight, without hyperbole and idiotic retorts please... thanx
I have the diff. out of my car & it checks out ok for now. I would like to upgrade to larger bearing caps, screw and a blue print, but that aint gonna happen right now. Sooooo I got to wondering.
Is it possible to arc weld a bead or two down the lenght of the posi case bearing cap to improve it's strength? It is bolted in place to limit distortion & a pre-heat with a torch for the cast iron per rule of thumb.
I am a hack welder, but don't have knowledge in the heat treating & metal fatique area
This would be a crutch fix until the tom's billet upgrade could be installed.
Or, since I am using a dual mount spring, I have thought about machining a flat area on the diff. cover & installing an insert & screw to make for a positive stop against the cap, similar to an after market cover on a regular diff.
If this is ridiculous, please keep it straight, without hyperbole and idiotic retorts please... thanx
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,526
Likes: 2
From: Oak Ridge NC
Greetings, sorry if this is a dumb question, but here goes.
I have the diff. out of my car & it checks out ok for now. I would like to upgrade to larger bearing caps, screw and a blue print, but that aint gonna happen right now. Sooooo I got to wondering.
Is it possible to arc weld a bead or two down the lenght of the posi case bearing cap to improve it's strength? It is bolted in place to limit distortion & a pre-heat with a torch for the cast iron per rule of thumb.
I am a hack welder, but don't have knowledge in the heat treating & metal fatique area
This would be a crutch fix until the tom's billet upgrade could be installed.
Or, since I am using a dual mount spring, I have thought about machining a flat area on the diff. cover & installing an insert & screw to make for a positive stop against the cap, similar to an after market cover on a regular diff.
If this is ridiculous, please keep it straight, without hyperbole and idiotic retorts please... thanx
I have the diff. out of my car & it checks out ok for now. I would like to upgrade to larger bearing caps, screw and a blue print, but that aint gonna happen right now. Sooooo I got to wondering.
Is it possible to arc weld a bead or two down the lenght of the posi case bearing cap to improve it's strength? It is bolted in place to limit distortion & a pre-heat with a torch for the cast iron per rule of thumb.
I am a hack welder, but don't have knowledge in the heat treating & metal fatique area
This would be a crutch fix until the tom's billet upgrade could be installed.
Or, since I am using a dual mount spring, I have thought about machining a flat area on the diff. cover & installing an insert & screw to make for a positive stop against the cap, similar to an after market cover on a regular diff.
If this is ridiculous, please keep it straight, without hyperbole and idiotic retorts please... thanx
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,175
Likes: 3,990
From: Connecticut, USA
Welding is not going to help. You can fit a steel cap if you want but they are not as simple to install. I'm doing one now and it has become very time consuming. The pads were not flat and had a rock in them without the race in place. Then to correct this I indicated the cap and ground the pads flat. Then the ID was off about .020" so I had to put it in the Bridgeport and indicate the radius to center it them setup a boring bar and move up .020" and rebore the ID, then I have to grind the pads for a .001 rock. The instructions that come with it simpley say to "file" the pads but has no mention when the cap is too high.
For now switch to socket head cap screws in place of the hex heads.
For now switch to socket head cap screws in place of the hex heads.
