Like the title Says, whats the point? I've been getting told both ways that I do or do not need to weld my tubes before my new engine goes in. 400hp 355, with 245 tires, and a posi. Is it something I need to do, or is it just not that important? I do autocross my car, but I will probably not do any of that for this season considering the motor is brand new and I will have to break it in. I also plan on getting a new rear end next year, so wasting $100 on getting something done thats really not needed would be pointless. I dont I cant figure it out and I cant find anything in the search box.


Rob...

 

you dont need to do it.

It is common to weld the tubes to the housing on leaf spring cars. This gives it more strength because of the rearend trying to rotate. Leaf spring cars have more twist since the leafs are so far away from the center section. However on our camaros, the torque arm prevents rotation so the axle tubes sees very little twist compared to leaf spring applications.

hope that makes some sense.

 

Under power the pinion gear tries to climb up the ring gear. Just think of the forces that lift the front wheels off of the ground on a drag car. If the rear end is ancored to the car through the axle tubes then all of that torque is applied to the tubes, such as on a leaf spring car or a car with ladder bars or 4 link. The axle tubes are pressed into the center casting and plug welded in 3 places. These plug welds are known to break in high power cars with lots of traction. When this happens the center casting will rotate on the tubes when the pinion climbs up the ring gear, and will pull the drive shaft out of the transmissin and push the pinion yoke through the floor of the car. As 3rdgenmaro said, your car applies the torque through the torque arm and not through the axle tubes, so welding the tubes on your car would not be needed.

 

Just don't drive it hard... (good luck) ... and don't use full blown slicks... maybe use semi slicks, or radial slicks...

 

Cool thanks for the info. Good thing I ddnt waste money on having it done. Now I can put that money twards some new seats.