Shock tabs keep shearing off on solid axle/leaf spring setup

[honda250xtitan]

Also, you want to weld along the tube, not around the tube. Around the tube can lead to axle failure.

huh? there's nothing inside the tube? the trailer axle has the spindles welded to the ends of the tube

I can certainly empathize. Generally my welds are somewhere between mediocre and okay but boy can I grind....

lol. i get lucky sometimes. normally lucky when i prep the crap outta my stuff, have a good work space, etc. Figures an awkward location, with 2 different gauge metals didn't give me solid results. hopefully fix it one of these days before the 115 days return to Phx.

 

[Louisd75]

huh? there's nothing inside the tube? the trailer axle has the spindles welded to the ends of the tube

Yes, that's correct (well, nothing except the brake wiring). When you're welding things to the axle tube though you should avoid and minimize welds that go around the circumference or wrap around the tube. Welding along the tube, from passenger to driver side, for example, generally doesn't cause problems. Welding around can lead to stresses. Don't take my word for it, you can scroll through Dexter's instructions for welding on axle tubes. It starts on page 5:

https://www.dexteraxle.com/docs/default-source/default-document-library/heavy-duty-installation-and-weldingcfd27f9d2ba463c18d7aff64007a4014.pdf?sfvrsn=0

FWIW, here's how I welded my shock mounts onto the axle tube:

I used a piece of square tube with one end cut to match the axle diameter. The other end is cut and drilled to mount the shock absorber. The axle side of the shock absorber mount is welded along the top and bottom edges, parallel to the axle tube. There are no vertical welds connecting the shock absorber mount to the axle tube as these could create unwanted stresses.

 

[honda250xtitan]

Gotcha. Thanks!