Welding steering knuckles, 3 Q's

1) Do I need to preheat the axle tube/ inner C joint?

2) Are the inners cast IRON or Cast Steel? I'm assuming that they are steel, and that I do not need a high nickel cast type welding electrode. I'm planning on using my stock of 6011's if I don't need the cast rods. Or is there another rod I should buy?

3) When I do weld them, should I do small stitch welds and keep going around untill I've got it all the way or just run a bead all the way around in one fell swoop?


p.s. using a lincoln 225 AC buzz box.

 

The inner c is cast steel. No need to use nickel rods.
The way you tell is take a grinder to it. If the sparks are more white, it is cast steel, if the sparks are more orange, it is cast iron.
I don't think it ever hurts to balance the heat, and pre-heating helps that out as well as working on both sides.
That being said, I have gotten away with doing about 1.5" runs working both sides, no pre-heat.

 

Seems like I heard that 7018 was a good rod to use on knuckles.

 

Considering you have a 225 ac buzz box, use 7018 AC welding rod. It is specifically made for AC welders and is a much better rod to use when welding case steel that the 6011 rods you have.

 

well, got it done yesterday. I need to clean up my welds a bit, but its ready to go under the jeep. I had to grind a little more than I would have liked, but it should still be plenty solid. I may grind and topcoat the welds with another bead just to clean up the appearance.

I do have to say though, even once the welds were ground away, 30+ years of rust can hold those knuckles pretty well. It took some serious sledgehammer action to get them moving.