Anybody use these?

$50 seems outrageous for angle and a couple bolts, but it is an intriguing idea. Not sure how I feel about welding on to All-Pro cast arms.

 

Well I'll tell you this. Bobby Long's stuff is the bomb diggity (WA). (I have 30 spline longfields - chromoly at $450) Same with Steve Shaffer (AZ), and Front Range off Road (Brian in CO). Well worth the coin IMHO! (I have the FROR steering arms and they are indestructible! - because I bent my factory steering arms and the bolts sheared off! Once I got FROR kit It was 100x better)

http://www.frontrangeoffroadfab.com/nfoscomm/catalog/
http://www.longfieldsuperaxles.com/

I think this is Steve Shaffer's shop:
http://www.manta.com/coms2/dnbcompany_ck66z9

He made a brace for the bud build skid plate for members ~tc~ and AxleIke and it is awesome


Where are you located? because Bent-up in Sacramento is really good too! *edit* just remembered you are in Colorado... wheeeeee!

 

Molly...are you talking about Steve's website (Sonoran Steel)?

 

There's also a Steve Schaefer, who owns Sonoran Steel in Tempe, AZ. He's sschaefer3 on YT. I have his IFS truss, which is really nice work.

www.sonoransteel.com

 

Argh.... I knew Steve's name - just couldn't remember the name of his company! Thanks for the clarification!

 

I think it is a great idea! Way cheaper than ARPs or those six shooter knuckles. I am currently running ARP studs but if I had known about this...I would have gone that route. Yes, it is overpriced. If you have a welder already its not that much more work to fab the tab yourself and tap the knuckle

 

Exactly.
Thoughts on welding to the cast arms though? Makes me jiggery.

BTW, +1 on props to Bobby Long, & Brian Ellinger. I am also a happy user of their products. Their customer support is second to none.

Just wondering if anyone has used this solution, and what the results were.

 

Talked to Bobby. What a great guy.

He uses 3/8 steel (nobody ever successfully accused him of building in weakness). Turns out he came up with this solution years ago when he lost a steering arm in the snow and has run them for years.

He seems to feel the steel in the All-Pro arms is good quality and will weld up fine. He is also comfortable with folks just taking the idea and fabbing it themselves. He bends the steel and puts the bolt through a cast in spot in the knuckle that is too thin to tap, but just right for the nut.

Hmmm.

Thinkin' about it... Of course I just recently did a complete front axle service... DOH!

 

While I love Bobby Long and have much respect for him (and I idolize his wife who does most of the welding) I had to go with the six-stud knuckles:

http://www.trail-gear.com/vbulletin/...ead.php?t=4577

 

While certainly it is a cheaper option I feel it is well inferior compared to the six shooter option or even just the upgraded studs. Certainly a good option when first done but now it is crude and outdated by comparison to other more viable options.

Welding to cast is not for everyone even when the metallurgy is good and removing more metal to add 1 stud just does not rationalize well to me.

Put a set of six shooters next to a set of stock knuckles and a set of 4 stud steering arms and you will see a huge difference in beef.

If you are going to wheel why settle for the 3rd best option?

 

Cost/benefit. The only reason. If I were to add ram assist, there would be no discussion.
Currently stock works, this is just my compulsiveness in overdrive. Yeah, ARP studs are certainly going in there no matter what.
The attractive thing about the 5th bolt/stud is that its attachment point gives it pretty good mechanical advantage.

 

also the fact that its not a stolen design

 

Yeah I'm not a fan of all pro. My arches... de-arched in 6 months. Bobby Long is wear it is at, as well as FROR....

 

Thanks much for the link. Food for thought. I gather then from that thread that the 190K studs are FRORF's, and the 220K are Trail-Gear's?

BTW, I too like Brian and have bought from/used his products for years.

Regards building the ultimate, I could of course build a Diamond front axle with D60 outers and a Ford 9" dropout... but you get my meaning. Cost/benefit.

 

Last I heard though, Chris and Marlin had come to an agreement. But I've not followed it closely. I get enough drama in other areas of my life.

 

Oh and whatever you decide Chomo studs are the only way to go.

 

If I could chromo everything I would..... Or at least cryo-treat it...

Shoot, I need to Chromo myself! Dropped a cross member on me while painting and now I have a razz-berry between the eyes!

 

Had a great conversation with Brian Ellinger last night. He reviewed the testing procedures, torquing procedures, and issues involved, which I won't go into. I will not be using the six shooter knuckles, but will be ordering FRORF's ARP studs and locknuts.

Brian was very leery of welding to my cast All-Pro arms.

FWIW, they use stock knuckles on their project truck with a 2" ram, plus his ARP studs and locking nuts PROPERLY TORQUED and they have never even had anything go loose, much less move.

Convinced!

 

I think you made a wise decision. Just remember to keep em torqued like Brian said. The torque is higher than stock studs for ARPS...like 110-120 ft lbs....good luck!

 

That's great to hear. Yeah Brian has always done me right!