Cracked axle housing.

My axle cracked at the same place and along the weld seams last year on my 402s. I removed the suspension and u bolts, so I could get in there and find the whole crack. I drained fluids and removed the vent and replaced it with a 1/4 QD compressor fitting. I pressured the housing to a few pounds of air and sprayed soapy water along every weld seam. I grinded a v in the all cracks. I use a mig and haven't had it crack back out yet. Since I had it tore down, I went ahead and rebushinged it while was there.

 

Kinda hard to tell if that's really a crack by looking at a picture. Good catch though! A lot of drivetrain component companies now offer their parts and service manuals online at their websites. You may get lucky and find a repair procedure. You could probably even call up the manufacturer and find out their recommended procedure that way.

 

No problem.. I was really surprised after I pressured and found more.. mostly at the weld seams behind the u bolts..

 

Have done several of them. If it is just a crack grind out and weld it. Set a air regulator at about 5 PSI ,hook hose up to vent hole, and spray with soapy water. Some times they are spider web'ed and must be plated. If it is on the front and the back I prefer to repair the original housing as much as possible. Then 1/4" plate over that and grind the axle seat to fit over the plates.

 

Are you guys hauling heavy for these to crack? Or is it just normal use and old age of the axles?

 

Just my opinion ID heat it with a rose bud before I welded it

 

I use 7018 sticks but have hired a certified pipe welder on some that were really messed up.
I have seen it on a road tractor, o/o with a tank company, due to neglect buy running loose U-bolts. It had worn the axle housing and brackets from slopping around. Probably had multiple failures before I saw it and it was spider webbed. Welded it up but it did not last, had to plate it.
Also saw several from a scrap iron company. While at their office one day I saw them load and pack a high side trailer with a magnet then scale it. Then pack it, load and pack it some more, twice.
Surely happens from age and fatigue sometimes.
Usually starts from being ran loose. Hit the U-bolts with a hammer at PM services. Loose U-bolts move and or sound different. Tighten them, if they won't turn heat one flat on the nut orange and tighten it. If it still won't turn replace it.