The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline 41' Straight Axle?'s

I'm wondering if the front axle on a 41' GMC COE is weldable? I'm not confident enough to tell with the testing methods on my own. The reason I'm asking is I've been thinking of making a drop axle for it to get it a little lower to the ground. I've also been thinking about removing a couple of springs from the spring pack to soften the ride a little. It's a 4/6 ton truck so it has plenty of leafs to be safe and an overload pack if I haul anything heavy. I'll never haul that much, just want to get a better ride. What are the opinions on this?

Welding something like an axle should only be done by a very qualified and experienced welder. Even then, do you want to trust that the only thing keeping you on the road is welded together with a hope that it will be fine?

I am a metallurgist and deal with welding quite a bit. I know welding of axles has been done lots, but as one of the most important components on your truck any welding and re-engineering should be done extremely carefully.

I have never understood how they stretch these axles by heating them considering they are a forged part. I though that was a no-no.

Since you are a metallurgist, can you tell me if it's cast steel or cast iron? I can weld just fine, just not as confident in knowing between the two. I welded my steering arms on my Fj40 and they work,welded the a-arms on a circle track car and haven't had any probs, welded spring perches on a semi at work??? Not trying to be cocky just want to know if it can be done? If it's steel, I can weld it. This thing only goes 45mph. I could skid it to a stop with the axle dragging, it'd probably work better than the brakes. LOL.

I'm not sure what these axles were made from in 41.

I know there's a chip/curl test that can be done, I'll need to find someone thats confident enough to do it. Hopefully I can get enough out of the springs to save me the trouble.
Thanks for the replies.