A certified welder will rarely have his welds crack. More often it's the
surrounding metal that will give first.
As far as trailer hitches are concerned, the main reason they're bolted on is
because it's easier and cheaper to sell them that way. They are also not
subjected to the same stress as IFS systems. There's a big difference between
occasionally having to support the weight and sheer stresses that a trailer
creates than having to constantly put up with every little bump in the road and
twist of the frame like your suspension system does.
Cotter pins and/or Locktite can be used and would definitely help, but how many
people do you think actually use those techniques when installing a bolt on
aftermarket IFS system? Not one in a hundred would be a safe bet.
Bill Whittaker
'53 3100 Hemi
Built Like A Rock
With Mopar Stock
-----Original Message-----
From: Grant Galbraith [mailto:trks@javanet.com]
Sent: Friday, September 15, 2000 11:19 AM
To: Whittaker Bill G Civ ASC/SMY
Cc: 'Old Trucks'
Subject: Re: [oletrucks] RE: IFS, but not to open any can or worms again
I'm not sure that welds hold up better than bolts to stress and vibration.
Welds crack. Isn't this why trailer hitches are bolted on rather than welded.
They are many critical bolts in front suspension's. They can be drilled for
cotter pins or loctited.
Grant
50 Chevy 3100
52 GMC 150
> Flexing and vibration are the two major culprits that loosen bolts, and
>they don't discriminate as to which bolts !
>
>
> Bill Whittaker
> '53 3100 Hemi
> Built Like A Rock
> With Mopar Stock
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Brian _ [mailto:pkupman57@hotmail.com]
> Sent: Thursday, September 14, 2000 6:53 PM
> To: ryan_border@hp.com; oletrucks@autox.team.net
> Subject: RE: [oletrucks] RE: IFS, but not to open any can or worms again
>
> list,
> i work for the ford dealer in town. ive changed several engines in vehicles
> and most all FWD cars and vans use a bolt on front sub frame. the ford
> windstar for example, uses 4 bolts to hold the front sub frame, engine,
> suspension, steering, tranny, everything onto theh body. makes it EZ to
> change engines tho, as you only undo 4 bolts, brake lines, and steering and
> shift linkage, and the whole shabang drops out from under the van. so i dont
> believe that the majority of bolt on front suspensions are unsafe.
> Brian M
> Atwater, CA
> '57 Chevy 3200
> _________________________________________________________________________
>
> oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
> oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
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