[Pacfanweb]

So, after a bit over a year of very slow business coupled with a few health problems and surgeries, I'm back trying to do a little work on my Jeep resurrection.

Some might remember when I started back in 2007, I was trying to make Camp Jeep that year.

Yeah, that obviously didn't happen. The MAW's (Might As Well's) and WIT's (While I'm There's) killed me.

Well, that, and I got a boat that same year and pretty much went out every weekend.

Anyway, the boat is history, (as is most of my money) and I'm trying to do what I can with the Jeep....had shoulder surgery just before the first of the year and I still can't do much with it, but oh well....I am, anway.

So, my current task is fixing up this rear end. I have an 86 Dana 44, that had a disc conversion done when I got it. Trouble is, whoever did it might be the worst welder there is....but it did get run and they didn't break....Lord knows how, looking at the welds.
I've taken a few pics of the before, and how they looked after I ground the welds on the right side down:

Check this quality work out:


Are these not some sweet welds?






I'll continue this in the next post

[Pacfanweb]

So out came the grinder:






You get the idea. I am a bit concerned about the apparent opening UNDER the bracket....will this give me a problem, or should I just weld the hell out of it correctly and it'll penetrate? Love to hear Besrk's opinion on this.

[BESRK]

Honestly, I'd grind until I could remove the brackets without bending them. Clean off all of that mess and weld them back on correctly. You got quite a bit of the old stuff off but there's still enough that I would be worried about new weld not getting good penetration.. basically just laying on that old stuff.

If this were something like a shock bracket, I might be tempted to risk it.. but with brakes.. better safe than sorry.


As for realigning the brackets.. should be able to install the calipers/pads and slide them in place on the disk to locate the bracket when you reinstall it.


I'll bet you could probably beat those brackets off with a hammer if you weren't trying to reuse them. That's how bad those old welds look..

[Pacfanweb]

Thanks a lot....I was afraid that's what you were going to say.

I wonder if I'd be better off just getting some new brackets....don't know how badly I'll mangle these getting them off.

[JeepnBlake]

I would just keep grinding off the boogers until they're gone and then weld them properly.

[alex211]

Get some new brackets and do a nice job, whoever tried to put those on had no clue. lol

[OlivergreenCJ7]

I really think it's all on how you look at it. The PO managed to weld on a bracket with little to no metal actually being connected... that has to be worth something.

[Pacfanweb]

Originally Posted by OlivergreenCJ7

I really think it's all on how you look at it. The PO managed to weld on a bracket with little to no metal actually being connected... that has to be worth something.

True....funny/scary thing is, he evidently ran it for awhile with no problems.

Also, before I starting grinding those magnificent welds off, I beat the hell out of the bracket with a good-sized hammer, and they didn't budge. Go figure.