Raptor Spindle Gussets

[Dan06]

Wow turns out this may be more complicated than I thought. I personally have a set but they have not been installed. Wonder if I should specifically seek out a specialized shop to install these things.

 

[Donk74]

Another possible issue with welding these reinforcement plates on the factory steering knuckles is weather or not the knuckle is heat treated. It’s fairly common to harden and temper suspension components to maximize their strength and ductility. If that’s the case with the Raptor knuckles, welding on them will negatively affect the properties in the area of the weld. Worst case that could cause the failure mode to be a catastrophic fracture (UCA & LCA no longer connected) instead of just bending the top of the knuckle.

If, anybody has a bent knuckle I’d be happy to cut it up and answer all our questions…

Yes, I’m an uber geek

 

[Dan06]

Sure hope someone brings you one to dissect. They are sold by Outlaw Raptor so I assume they know it's okay to install these things. Just wonder how specialized the shop that installs mine needs to be?

 

[Yukon Joe]

Another possible issue with welding these reinforcement plates on the factory steering knuckles is weather or not the knuckle is heat treated. It’s fairly common to harden and temper suspension components to maximize their strength and ductility. If that’s the case with the Raptor knuckles, welding on them will negatively affect the properties in the area of the weld. Worst case that could cause the failure mode to be a catastrophic fracture (UCA & LCA no longer connected) instead of just bending the top of the knuckle.

If, anybody has a bent knuckle I’d be happy to cut it up and answer all our questions…

Yes, I’m an uber geek

Welding engineer or metallurgy?

Joe

 

[BigJ]

Just in case you missed it, Outlaw has provided a procedure for welding the gussets to cast iron. They also said the procedure they gave applies to our cast steel spindles.

 

[Donk74]

Welding engineer or metallurgy?

Joe

Metallurgist / heat treat & steel R&D for CAT

Welding is just a hobby (which i admittedly suck at)

---------- Post added at 01:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:39 PM ----------

Just in case you missed it, Outlaw has provided a procedure for welding the gussets to cast iron. They also said the procedure they gave applies to our cast steel spindles.

Big J

Thanks just checked it out

Might ask the heat treat question over on that thread, like I should have in 5th he first place, opps

 

[Yukon Joe]

Nice, my brother works for CAT. In the mining division. Good company.

Joe

 

[Aidan]

Metallurgist / heat treat & steel R&D for CAT

Welding is just a hobby (which i admittedly suck at)

Ha! I do the exact same job at a bearing company up here in New Hampshire. I love the stuff, steel and heat treating is super cool.

 

[Donk74]

Ha! I do the exact same job at a bearing company up here in New Hampshire. I love the stuff, steel and heat treating is super cool.

Figured you had to do something like that. Spark test for carbon content is old school.

The real question is can you pick up the alloying elements with spark color?

 

[Aidan]

Figured you had to do something like that. Spark test for carbon content is old school.

The real question is can you pick up the alloying elements with spark color?

Me? No way. I'm no expert at it for sure. I can get an idea of carbon content from what I learned in welding classes but that's about it.

I know there are some serious pros who can tell you a ton though. I remember reading that they'd done studies and had people who were accurate to +/-0.05% carbon with the spark test.