I know. Im so pissed/upset/discouraged... I have SOOO much work in that housing that it isn't even funny. The rear axle housing is the one thing that i thought i'd never have to worry about again. Guess I was wrong... Unfortunately I dont have the money, time, or reasourses (well, they are there, but not as availible) to re do it and build another one. So... I went by a machine shop today and talked to the guy about fixing it. Without seeing it he said he wasn't sure, but he did say he could weld that cast no problem. So, next week im gonna pull it out and tear it down and see how bad the crack really is on the inside. If I can press it back together all the way, I'll tack it and then take it to him to get fully welded. Once he is done with it, I'll build a mini truss to go on that side of the housing to keep it from braking again.
I know it probably isn't the best way to do it, a new axle would be best, but I can't bring myself to throw all that work away without at least trying to fix it. I mean, goodness, I literally designed and made everything on that axle; spring perches, spring plates, custom u-bolts, traction bar mounts, narrowed the housing to the proper width and sleeved using 3.75 OD 3/8 wall DOM (equivalent of 5/8" thick axle tubes!). You guys have no idea how much I put into it. Throwing this housing away is like buying a Pro-Rock 60 with no warranty and then throwing it away after 3 trips on it... its hard to make yourself do it. It was crushing to see that crack. However, the Rock Crusher cover held it together, and I made it off the trail and down the road with no problems from it whatsoever. It doesn't whine or anything, so at least the internals are fine.
The only other thing I can see maybe doing is finding a HP dana 44 from the front of a leaf sprung F-250 and narrowing that to the proper length, ditching the inner c's and welding on semi float ends to run my shafts. There are pro's and con's to this though. The pro's are that those axles already have 1/2" wall axle tubes, so the bend factor is low. Also, the High pinion would give me a flat driveshaft angle in the rear which makes for a stronger shaft (since the u joints would have almost no angle to them). The cons are that technically a high pinion gearset is weaker in the rear and isn't adviseable (even though big companies like Dynatrack and Currie do it all the time). Also, I would have to get the new R&P, new spring perches, new torque arm mounts, new shock mounts, new u bolts, and new spring plates. So... I really don't want to do that.
Im way broke... The guy at the machine shop guesstimated about $100 to try and fix it, but if it brakes again im out that money. However, im thinking that if I beef that area up enough, and he welds it good, it may be fine from here on out. ON the other hand, for just a little bit more, I can get a ring and pinion for a HP 44... but I'd still have to buy a housing, a master gear install kit, and get all the mounts made again.
What do you guys think?
By the way... I wanna see the video of me pulling the willy (pun intended; as in front tires off the ground) up 5 Hills.