Follow up to my welding question

I know this is a long shot, but does anyone know if the lower axle tube bracket that is welded onto the tube can be purchased? I looked at Ford parts and they do not sell it.


99F250 SD 4x4, front axle, right side. the spring sits on top of the axle tube and the bracket I am asking about is welded onto the bottom of the tube. the U bolts go over the spring leaf, down past the tube an through this bracket. the sway bar also mounts to this bracket. Hoping this would be an after market item, but, I really doubt it.

this one is Swiss cheese

Might haveta take your portable hand grinder, to one at a Ford junkyard...

well ya, that's the plan, but I was hoping to not need to fab a new saddle. like I said, this also has a mount for the sway bar. As Dave says I thought about salvaging, but that may be iffy, the yard may bit want one cut off of an axle. worth a try. In any event one can be fabbed, just more work

Shameless  AKA  Relentless

Shamless, that is probably going to be the end result sooner than later in any case. this is a '99, with about 80k mikes, and viewing it from 100 feet it looks in really nice shape. But underneath it is rusting away.....I mean way beyond Fords normal rust problem. Not just sheet metal, but frame, axles, springs, et VERY heavy rust. It probably only has another year or two before frame goes. I bought this thing used, so I do not know of it's history, except that I am the second owner, but it looks to me like it was not used much, and was stored on top of a salt pile. I know Fords like to rust, but this is well beyond that. I thought maybe it was a reclaimed flood victim they snuck in on me, but I cant imagine setting in water a week or two doing this kind of damage unless there was something in the water

With age and probable use, do you really need the sway bar?  I personally think they're over rated!

Can't wire weld on them,--it wont hold ---- gotta use stick so you get good welds.

After seeing and having MIG test welds tested at the Nuke can state they do not penetrate well enough for high stress equipment unless go heavy wire and tons of heat then are adequate at best. Stick is the best penetrating holding weld.

His latest video on welding.

john(MI) wrote: With age and probable use, do you really need the sway bar?  I personally think they're over rated!

well, ya'. first, it wont pass state inspection, and second, the same mounting fixture is also the lower plate to keep the axle in close flying formation to the leaf springs

     ......... Boiler Makers and Pipe Fitters are TOPS !