Alrighty,
I was switching back to stock from my quest coilovers when i realized the stock strut tab's were likely to bust with my rear eibach swaybar.
So, i decided to weld on a washer to help reinforce the strut tab's
What you need:
Heavy duty wire brush and or a wire brush wheel
Welder - mig is probably the best for this application
washers with the same ID as the hole for the swaybar links and similar size as the stock tabs
beer - aprox 1 x 6 pack should handle the job.
scantily clad women - optional
Give er:
remove the strut assembly from the vehicle and GENTLY mount it in the vice. you dont need to clamp the vice down verry hard, i would acctually suggest using a towel or rag or something else soft to hold the strut. if you pinch the outter casing.... it's all over. that being said it's pretty tough to pinch the outter casing.... but be carefull.
Now, using the wire brush or wire wheel remove the pain on the area you are about to weld on as show.
next use a bolt to hold the washer into strut tab for welding as shown and connect the negative from the welder to the bolt so you get good conductivity for the weld.
Now the time has come to start welding on your strut. you'll want to set the heat and the wire feed pretty low so you can take your time and do a good weld.
Now, lay a short bead along the edge of the washer. you need to go back and forth slowly between the washer and the strut tab. that way you get good penitration on both and therefore a good strong weld. ONLY WELD ABOUT AN INCH OR LESS.
your weld should look like this:
now stop the weld, turn the welder off and touch the strut tab where it attaches to the strut. it should be warm but not hot. if it's hot you've welded too long. now. consume beer 1 of 6.
once the strut has totally cooled, lay another bead along the top of the washer as shown:
now, consume beer # 2
once the strut has once again totally cooled.
lay 3rd and final bead #3 as shown
Now grab your other strut and repeat the process.
This process would also apply with the weld on strut tab pices made by one of the members here. you may however need to use more than 3 welds to keep the strut cool.
now, reinstall.
but dont drive till yer sober.
that is all
I was switching back to stock from my quest coilovers when i realized the stock strut tab's were likely to bust with my rear eibach swaybar.
So, i decided to weld on a washer to help reinforce the strut tab's
What you need:
Heavy duty wire brush and or a wire brush wheel
Welder - mig is probably the best for this application
washers with the same ID as the hole for the swaybar links and similar size as the stock tabs
beer - aprox 1 x 6 pack should handle the job.
scantily clad women - optional
Give er:
remove the strut assembly from the vehicle and GENTLY mount it in the vice. you dont need to clamp the vice down verry hard, i would acctually suggest using a towel or rag or something else soft to hold the strut. if you pinch the outter casing.... it's all over. that being said it's pretty tough to pinch the outter casing.... but be carefull.
Now, using the wire brush or wire wheel remove the pain on the area you are about to weld on as show.
next use a bolt to hold the washer into strut tab for welding as shown and connect the negative from the welder to the bolt so you get good conductivity for the weld.
Now the time has come to start welding on your strut. you'll want to set the heat and the wire feed pretty low so you can take your time and do a good weld.
Now, lay a short bead along the edge of the washer. you need to go back and forth slowly between the washer and the strut tab. that way you get good penitration on both and therefore a good strong weld. ONLY WELD ABOUT AN INCH OR LESS.
your weld should look like this:
now stop the weld, turn the welder off and touch the strut tab where it attaches to the strut. it should be warm but not hot. if it's hot you've welded too long. now. consume beer 1 of 6.
once the strut has totally cooled, lay another bead along the top of the washer as shown:
now, consume beer # 2
once the strut has once again totally cooled.
lay 3rd and final bead #3 as shown
Now grab your other strut and repeat the process.
This process would also apply with the weld on strut tab pices made by one of the members here. you may however need to use more than 3 welds to keep the strut cool.
now, reinstall.
but dont drive till yer sober.
that is all