Welding to cast cntrl arms

Well all this cast iron talk can someone please tell me what the spindles on a Accord are? are they cast iron or are they cast steel? Thanks for any help on this!

Most of the knuckles/spindles I have dealt with are cast steel. I have personaly welded to Honda knuckles without too much touble. The real issue comes when the part you welded on is forced to move (ie. tabs that were welded too wide and tightening a bolt down on the part.) Instead of the tab bending to conform to the part being tightened on, it will crack the weld. If you look at cast parts that have 2 tabs that tighten down on a part, there is typically a sleve on one side that is allowed to move insted of flexing the tab. This is needed in order to properly clamp down on the part.

Another way to try and stay safe is to cover as large of an area as possible.

I hope all that makes sence.

get a propaine torch and get the metal glowing red hot and then mig weld it

thats how ive been taught to weld cast iron and steel and ive taken over 5 years of welding classes

Yeah I've heard of that too. If you look at late model Ford I-beams they say "do not heat or weld" but I have seen them sucessfully welded on... Then heat treated for about 17 hours then let cool for 24 hrs in a bed of diatomateous earth (pretty much kitty litter).

The point is there are several ways to weld cast and no one will agree with the next guy. Just be carefull and think about what you are doing before diving in.

Originally posted by BioMax



Most of the knuckles/spindles I have dealt with are cast steel. I have personaly welded to Honda knuckles without too much touble. The real issue comes when the part you welded on is forced to move (ie. tabs that were welded too wide and tightening a bolt down on the part.) Instead of the tab bending to conform to the part being tightened on, it will crack the weld. If you look at cast parts that have 2 tabs that tighten down on a part, there is typically a sleve on one side that is allowed to move insted of flexing the tab. This is needed in order to properly clamp down on the part.

Another way to try and stay safe is to cover as large of an area as possible.

I hope all that makes sence.

Did you use a mig welder? I know that stick welders work with Cast Iron, but I dont have one and I actually hate working with one. I have a mig and was hoping that would work.

The control arms on GM fullsize SUV, have the balljoint and bushings permanently installed so heating them in an oven really isnt possible. I dont even think heating them with a torch would be a good idea either. Ive always used the DJM arms in these applications, but ive seen it done with the stock pieces and I wanna know how.

I have done all of my cast welding with a MIG, but personaly, I am quite sceptical of welding to a-arms. I would just build new ones. I know that's not always in the cards and I'm sure it's been done by many others, but I'm still unsure of cast arms.

Id be more skeptical to weld a spindle. When you are welding a bracket to an arm, the structural integrity of the arm hasnt been compromised. When you cut a spindle to extend it you have compromised its strength, and the strength of that weld will be the weak link. Im curous to know why you feel otherwise. I havent done either one yet, but I may have to some day.

Spindles see a different type of load. The a-arm is in a bending load, always, and welding to the middle of the arm is just placing the stress of the arm right where the weld is. Gusseting up an arm is a little different than a spindle. It's a little hard to explain.

I have never done any testing with a cast arm, but a friend of mine races in a class that they are not allowed to change suspension parts and he brakes the arms all the time. On the other hand the spindles do not brake.

Just one of the things I am leary of