*Check your spindle gussets for cracks with B/S talk

That's along the lines of my thoughts. If the stock spindles are designed with an allowable amount of flex adding an additional steel gusset will prevent that. The same forces that were previously absorbed by the flexing of the spindle are now acting on the weakest part of the new combined spindle, the welds and area adjacent to them.

 

I can't say I have ever seen a stock spindle break at the base like that. I have seen long travel trucks break them off at the top ball joint though. But my speculation is those guys are running 35" tires and are putting a lot of hard hits on them.

 

Uh, just to clarify... that doesn't look like a factory part. If I'm not mistaken, the factory spindles are cast.

 

They are forged.

 

Yes, we all know spindle gussets are an aftermarket accessory.

 

I was going to replace my passenger side as a precaution, but it is also cracking as well.

 

This^

 

I'm going to replace mine with the Truck Stop version gussets. Add a TC style Sway Bar version gusset to what I have now and fix the broken welds. And make those my new spares since they are way better condition than my spares I have at this moment.

 

You guys should put your spindles up to the test, see who wins!!! Say Barstow main road... Those whoops will test anything!!!!

 

Jason, I've been meaning to discuss my AFTERMARKET supercharger with you. And my AFTERMARKET diff breather.

 

Ill be at Barstow Main rhis sunday testing and tuning a 6100 truck, we just got done installing a new motor.

 

Except the title is *Check your spindle gussets for cracks It specifically refers to an aftermarket modification.

 

Check your spindles!!! haha sorry I had to. Nice 6100, what chassis?

 

Ignorance isn't unexpected when talking about such a mod and can easily be cured, the stupidity that follows is what is annoying.

 

OK, I'm going to post a summary of how I welded mine.

Also going to post pertinent information so people jumping in in the middle of this discussion aren't posting things already said or are inaccurate.

Here is the manual for installing the gussets.
http://www.chaosfab.com/PDF/install/accessories/59698.pdf

Here is the page for the gussets on TC's website. Note where it says "Factory spindles are forge, not cast and gussets can be MIG or TIG welded directly to them."
http://www.chaosfab.com/2005-2015-Tacoma-Weld-on-Spindle-Gussets-59698



OK, now I installed my gussets on my original spindles with 41000mi on them. It is probable they were bent/worked before I welded on the gussets I base this on the fact I had to do a bit of fitting on the gussets (grinding/removing material) to close the gaps enough to get a bead on the edges. It looks like on my passenger side I didn't even weld along the bottom all the way because I couldn't get a good enough fit, I just welded a small portion of it.

This is step 14 under the install instructions, (NOTE there is nothing about preheat/controlled cooldown):

14. Weld along complete top and sides of the spindle, also weld the bend seam. Weld the lower portion of the spindle gusset closest to the hub on both sides in and out. (It is recommended to weld in moderation, do not overheat the spindle.) **Recommended: Weld some on one spindle, then move to to the other spindle so you do not overheat one spindle.

I went with that and didn't want to warp or anneal the spindle. I used MIG with .035" wire and 25/75 carbon/argon mix. I used low heat, and I put a short bead 1-2" in the middle, then each end. I alternated between each spindle and a separate project allowing plenty of time for cooling. I had 20+ starts and stops on each spindle, it looked like shit, but I am damn certain I didn't overheat the spindles. I took about 1.5-2hr to finish welding on the spindles. My only worry at the time was the welds were going to break off at the surface of the spindle and the gusset may fall off at some point.

I am currently thinking the low heat worked against me. With the shallow penetration/low fusion it allowed the weld to break easier(due to the spindle flexing), the crack propagated through the main riser and sheared my driver side spindle.

My driver side failed at 45000mi after clipping a rock on the side of the trail at around 25mph-ish.

 

Its a division of Toyota yes, but I can guarantee that they have a separate income statement from the parent company...

 

I am just pointing out that because the words are on the truck doesn't make them part of the OG company.

 

too much off topic going on.. stay on topic since im learning a bunch here! lol

 

I took into consideration from a fellow poster that I should change the tittle of this thread, so I did.

it is now titled as the following..

*Check your spindle gussets for cracks with B/S talk