Reinforcing the diff cradle

[biddie_fiddler]

I'm looking for people here that have reinforced their diff cradles before and chasing some advice.

What did you do? Any challenges? Can you do it with the cradle in the car?

 

I know the IMS solution exists but I'm not paying an arm and a leg for the parts and install on a daily driven rig, if I was chasing big power I'd go this direction

My brother is a boily so he'll be doing most of the work #freelabour 🤣🤣

 

Here's a thread on the issue for reference.

[k31th]

the ims option is chump change compared to reinforcing it and having the same result...

[biddie_fiddler]

I fail to see how when steel plate is cheap and the welding is free 😋

 

Adding steel to an existing structure imo would be way easier (and quicker) than removing the old mount, and installing the IMS hat. The diff hat will need to be removed to install the new one too.

 

Definitely not arguing that the IMS is the better way to go, its just not the way I'm looking at going. Testing the waters and all that 😉

[arronm]

Weld and plate it.  It can be all free 

[biddie_fiddler]

I've seen in the forums that people who have done this before have all done it with the cradle out of the car. I see that this way you can get a whole lot more bracing around the mount.

I'm wondering, how much bracing do you think can "easily" be added without taking the cradle out? 

Reasoning - I've never removed the cradle out of my rig, and I don't have a hoist which would make life a tonne easier. I've seen videos of people doing it without a hoist though. 

I do have a few jack stands and a couple jacks so with a bit of swearing, beers, and mates I'm sure it's an relatively easy task. Again, looking to make this a day job to keep it off the road as little as possible.

[Puffwagon]

11 minutes ago, arronm said:

Weld and plate it.  It can be all free 

As slow as your car is, you're right.

 

OP it'll take two thirds of fark all to weld some plate across it. If your bro is gonna do it then let him decide what he's gonna do.

Edited 20/08/20 05:31 AM by Puffwagon

[biddie_fiddler]

Yea

 

12 minutes ago, Puffwagon said:

OP it'll take two thirds of fark all to weld some plate across it. If your bro is gonna do it then let him decide what he's gonna do.

Yea true, from experience boily's don't like engineers telling them what to do 😉😂

[gaz097]

Looks like mine cracked with previous owner then they just badly plated it still in the car going by the vertical up style welds on it. Still going strong to this day even with my abuse.

[arronm]

8 hours ago, Puffwagon said:

As slow as your car is, you're right.

 

OP it'll take two thirds of fark all to weld some plate across it. If your bro is gonna do it then let him decide what he's gonna do.

 

Both of my F6 are faster than your territory. 

[biddie_fiddler]

Thanks for letting me know!

 

How does this help me further my knowledge in reinforcing a diff cradle though?