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Taco Welder Input Needed

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by hazard2600, Jun 28, 2020.

  1. Jun 28, 2020 at 6:07 AM
    #1
    hazard2600

    hazard2600 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Hey guys and gals, I am getting a new lower steering shaft as my current one became defective. But because I installed a two inch body lift, I had to let out some "Slack" on the teeth of the lower steering rod.
    I would rather try to lengthen it if possible. I'm an amateur self taught stick welder, but don't know much about the steel the rod is made of. I wouldn't think it's tool steel. So no special rods would be needed.

    I plan on cutting up my defective rod to use for the extra length, cut the new one and add an appropriate length to it (i'm looking about 1 1/4" of additional length).
    Something like this...
    upload_2020-6-28_8-6-39.jpg
    Any insights on proper rods or actions to take (besides making sure it's absolutely straight. lol)?
     
  2. Jun 28, 2020 at 6:35 AM
    #2
    Larzzzz

    Larzzzz Grande' Ricardo

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    Do you trust your welds?

    Why not get another coupling same as the top of shaft and use that? That will give you some adjustment as well.
     
  3. Jun 28, 2020 at 9:07 AM
    #3
    dustinJ

    dustinJ Taco abuser

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    Well there's few things here. Getting it straight is going to be tough. It's going to want to pull as you weld it. If it's bar stock you should be ok. It's possible it's cast but I doubt it. After you cut it lay the top back and give yourself a bevel on every weld, like pipe. Tack it together with 6010 then weld it out with 3\32" 7018. Having it in a chuck to be able to roll it would be your best bet.
     
    whatstcp likes this.
  4. Jun 28, 2020 at 9:07 AM
    #4
    cwadej

    cwadej Ballerina Award winner

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    Since you will have a sacrificial shaft....
    Cut out the piece you will use on new shaft. Set it aside.

    Make 2 or 3 new cuts on the old (now in 2 pieces) shaft. Practice your welding putting it back together. Torture test the welds. Smash, bang, twist, bend. Did any of them fail? Do you trust your welds?

    Now, go do the new shaft, adding in the spacer.
     
    hazard2600[OP] likes this.
  5. Jun 28, 2020 at 9:09 AM
    #5
    dustinJ

    dustinJ Taco abuser

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    Also slip collars may be a better bet. Socket welds are stronger.
     
  6. Jun 28, 2020 at 9:20 AM
    #6
    Loco_Barbon

    Loco_Barbon Just deez nutz hangin’ out

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    I doubt it's tool steel, I would think it's some kind of carbon steel somewhere in the 10xx-15xx categories. That being said, do you trust your vehical and your life on your welding skills, if something like that let's go when you hit a pothole on the highway doing 70mph the outcome won't be great.
     
  7. Jun 28, 2020 at 9:53 AM
    #7
    hazard2600

    hazard2600 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    That's brilliant. I'm definitely going to do that first!
     
  8. Jun 28, 2020 at 9:58 AM
    #8
    hazard2600

    hazard2600 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I hear you loud and clear. But I do. I've been welding since I Was a kid. Built my own winch mount for a 12k winch that has pulled me out many times. I have good enough technique for what needs to get done. I've just never taken the time to learn metal types and heat techniques because I haven't had to. But learning about tool steel and the possibility that it might have been, I'm asking questions ;)
     
  9. Jun 28, 2020 at 10:32 AM
    #9
    vssman

    vssman Rocket Engineer

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    They’re low carbon steel - or at least that’s what the steering shafts were made of when I was a Manufacturing Engineer at Timken steering in the early 2000’s. FWIW, there’s a spot that the slider resides where the play is tolerances the tightest. Try to keep that sweet spot. Personally, I’d cut it right near the yoke so that you don’t get any slag inside that would stop the shaft from collapsing if it had to. Sleeves are a good idea as well. Try not to get the splined are hot, they should have plastic injected in there as a method to remove slop and eliminate noise. We used to Teflon coat them too.
     
    hazard2600[OP] likes this.
  10. Jun 28, 2020 at 10:48 AM
    #10
    winkel

    winkel Well-Known Member

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    If you're going to weld in the middle of the shaft area, you could clamp it into a piece of angle iron like an alignment jig. Tack one side, rotate it, straighten, clamp, tack the second side, repeat. When it's good and solid and straight, burn it in. Just a suggestion..
     
    hazard2600[OP] likes this.
  11. Jun 28, 2020 at 5:24 PM
    #11
    hazard2600

    hazard2600 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I cut the piece in half and took a piece from the shaft to use to lengthen the new one I'm getting shipped. I welded the original back together as practice and getting it lined up was difficult. I sledge hammered the heck out of it for a few minutes to test it's strength and it passed with flying colors. I'm definitely going to use a piece of angle iron like Winkle suggested to make sure it's all lined up well.
     

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