Long Travel BS Thread

Imo perfecting mig welding first is kinda backwards at least; a waste of time at most. It's great if you have welding down already and want to do a few quick n dirty welds or knock out dozens of parts in a day. For structural stuff where weld quality matters, like suspension parts and cages, stick and tig are much less voodoo magic to learn on and that'll lead to better welds on more projects done earlier on. Also i find it's not that hard to get a decent machine without spending a lot which is usually the case for most starting with mig. The tombstone style stick machines go less than a dollar a pound anywhere and everywhere, and old transformer tig machines even less assuming ya got the space

Run what ya brung more than anything. Still better off than people unwilling to learn shit and develop skills. Just stating my opinion on the ideal way to go with welding based on this threads main subject matter

 

For most MIG is 100% the most commonly used type of welding. It’s user friendly, quick to learn and get good results from. It’s also about 5x faster than TIG, on a bad day.

TIG is my preferred method of welding. But it took YEARS to actually be good with it. Sitting at a bench is one thing. Twisted up like a pretzel trying to do a cage or something under a vehicle. Totally different.

Not to mention. TIG should ALWAYS be double pass welded if it’s a critical component. Root/Cover.

The prep for good quality TIG welds, is also a bear of a task in its self.

There is a reason basically no welding school will ever start someone on TIG. Because it is absolutely not easy for a new guy.

 

WIY bumpers that come out looking bad are totally different than a control arm breaking and killing a family of 5. The liability issues are interesting in this world. You’re responsible but not at the same time. Meaning, if you sold a WIY long travel kit to someone that didn’t know how to weld and they kill someone. A good lawyer is going to take you for a ride.

 

That's been my line of thought too tbh. I've seen WIY bumpers with hitches and hitches only. I imagine pulling a trailer or luggage carrier coming loose on the freeway can cause an accident too.

 

Curious about your thoughts on someone doing their own LT leaf spring "kit" (shackles and hangers.) Was planning on making my own for my build. I think it will be cheaper but the overall goal would be to learn and enjoy the project. You saying this though makes me wonder if it may be a larger undertaking than I'm expecting, especially with the lack of resources available in regards to leaf spring geometry online.

 

Anything is possible. SUA would be about the easiest suspension project one could tackle in terms of not really needing jigs if it’s a one off deal.

 

Anybody in here know if any of the big manufacturers will sell bypass tubes individually? I’m looking at the possibility of adding trim tubes to my bump zone in the rear. Something I know I could tackle and would much rather not send out to be done.

 

Leaf spring geometry isn't too complicated since there really isn't much you could change even if you wanted to. They either cycle cleanly or they don't. Then you get a small window of shackle length and pinion angle to play with and that's about it. Plan for a lot of time spent breaking down the leafs and cycling the suspension with it tacked together - then about double whatever you came up with. Other than that it's not more involved than any other weld on part. Everything is out in the open and easy to get to n that jazz

 

I've got a guy at work that use to work for a company that welded on the tubes for King....think he may still do side work for them so I may be able to get what your lookiing for. Any particular length. I'm not actually sure how they are manufactured.

 

Yeah, it seems there is a large amount of general rules of thumb out of there, and the consensus is just cycle everything 1 millions times until you get it right. Ideally however I would like to get it designed on the computer, send it out to get laser. Bend everything weld what I can and then only have the truck down for less than a week. Just how I like to do things, because I'm good at the computer work... not so much on the torch, need practice. So when I say lack of info I'm talking about optimal shackle angle at ride height, whether its best to have the shackle in tension vs compression(spring above the shackle or below), and stuff like that. All of this stuff probably isn't super important but I'd like to get it as dialed as physically possible.

 

I would have to measure the length to be positive. But probably 3”

 

Any suggestions on pumping 85w140? I’ve tried drill pumps, two different hand pumps, penis pump etc. and it never ends up working well.

 

Soak it in a scalding hot bucket of water first. Should see what 250 is like lol.

 

The reason so many things lack details (general rule of thumb) is because of the number of variables. How do you want it to perform, what are your expectations, where do you want it to be its best, how much power, how much travel and the list goes on. Commercially available products from quality reputable experienced MFG's are always going to shoot for generalities based on their own experiences of testing. So, if you want something very specific you need to do it yourself or pay for custom. But you will first have to define exactly what you want that cannot be accomplished by what is already available. And the only way to get there is normally from vast amounts of experience of trying everything available as well as your own outside of the box experiments.

 

i mean its just a piece of tubing thats bent at either 90 to make one or 180 and cut in half for two with another piece cut and welded at the top and some holes drilled and a oring adapter fitting for the bypass itself to go into welded on, but honestly if they would sell them it would take way less time than trying to make two of them yourself...

 

well shit…I only had one suggestion and you pretty much covered it

 

Great minds think alike

 

When I’d do gear installs, I’d set the bottles in the sun or in front of a space heater. This would get em nice n easy flowing. If Lucas would come out with the squeeze bag like other brands have, it would be so much easier.

 

love the amsoil squeeze bags.

 

Lube in a bag is the best invention since sliced bread. Errrbody needs to get on board. Don’t even get a nipple with my redline bottles.