14 bolt help! Small hole in tube

[Billgmcallen]

I finally bought a 14 bolt today for 120 bucks. I plan on rebuilding it, but I found a problem while wire brushing rust, there is a 1/8 inch hole in the tube where the old shackles rubbed the tube. What do I do now and has anyone else had this problem?

 

[badazzbulldog]

mig weld it

 

[IOWNJUNK]

What he said ^^^^

 

[Billgmcallen]

Is it common to have pitting on the tube where the u bolt backer is? I'm planning on mig welding it... just curious if anyone else had the problem. I don't want to scrap it, I've got it looking really good

 

[Billgmcallen]

U bolt bracket I mean

 

[454ss]

nothing should rub the axel tube, the spring mount are welded to it. what are you talking about? either way welding isn't needed, smear rtv or jb weld over the hole and your good.

 

[83GMCK2500]

Ridiculously common to have heavy pitting between the axle tube and the u-bolt saddle. Look into a ubolt flip kit.


Sent from my marvel of Jobs' technology that is lucky I haven't backed over it with the flatbed using Tapatalk 2...

 

[83GMCK2500]

There are many kits out there but this is the first that comes to mind, bonus pics of the problem on their page: ORD U-Bolt Reversal Kit

 

[Billgmcallen]

Thanks for all the replies, the tube was pitted and pretty thin but I ended up welding the hole closed and used quarter inch plate that I welded and bent around the tube to reinforce where the metal had corroded. I def plan on using one of those u bolt reverse kits now