Topic: Anyone double shear their steering arms

[87pickup]

Qurious if anyone has double sheared their Marlin steering arms? I know its not needed for rod ends but i am thinking of going full hydraulic with heims and would like to make them double shear with prolly some 1/4" p&o or 4130 plate.

[toytank]

im very interested in this  im full hydro already with the 6 stud knuckes ive thought about going this route but i dont want to weaken the arms by welding to them because they are cast

[TacoRunner]

im very interested in this  im full hydro already with the 6 stud knuckes ive thought about going this route but i dont want to weaken the arms by welding to them because they are cast

whos arms are you running that are cast???

[toytank]

tg, i maybe wrong i havnt looked at them lately but i remember them being cast

[toytank]

ok just went tg site  they are forged arms. i dont know but isnt that basicly cast  if someone could fill me in that would be great

[TacoRunner]

No not the same at all. Cast is liquid metal poured into a mold and forged is red hot metal that is beat into a desired shape. Imagine air bubbles in the cast and not in the forged.

[jrock]

No not the same at all. Cast is liquid metal poured into a mold and forged is red hot metal that is beat into a desired shape. Imagine air bubbles in the cast and not in the forged.

Hyjack for a sec., what is it when they are cut out of a solid block?

[NorCalToy]

Hyjack for a sec., what is it when they are cut out of a solid block?

I believe its Billet

[TacoRunner]

I believe its Billet

NO, being cut from "bar stock" and Billet are not the same. Billet is a much higher quality of metal. Most of the time people get that mixed up, any company that claims they are making a part from Billet should be questioned by the consumer as to wether or not is true Billet or Bar Stock.

http://www.metalinfo.com/demob_kov_mech.cfm

[87pickup [OP]]

I have Marlin arms and dont think it would weaken them by tigging some 1/4 4130 plate to the top and out side of the arm with some gussets between the top and bottom. That way it would sandwich a 3/4x5/8 heim and i think more steering angle could be obtained by going with a 7" or 8" ram. If longs are good to 40 degrees i might as well use it. Plus i might be able to get some original 6 stud marlin arms and just tig the 4x4 labs blocks on my stock knuckles. Billet 6 studs Marlin arms with arp studs and double shear arms would be sweet. 

[axled89]

let's     this modification

[toytank]

taco runner since they are forged can i weld to them without any trouble? thanks for all the good info!

[zippo]

It should weld fine. Cast is harder to weld then forged. Just make sure the area is clean and use good welding practices.

[TacoRunner]

taco runner since they are forged can i weld to them without any trouble? thanks for all the good info!

ya yer fine. like zippo said. Always clean weld area first.

[zippo]

I gotta say, sometimes I dont clean the metal as good as i should and get the bubbles. Grind it out and reweld.

[TacoRunner]

I have Marlin arms and dont think it would weaken them by tigging some 1/4 4130 plate to the top and out side of the arm with some gussets between the top and bottom. That way it would sandwich a 3/4x5/8 heim and i think more steering angle could be obtained by going with a 7" or 8" ram. If longs are good to 40 degrees i might as well use it. Plus i might be able to get some original 6 stud marlin arms and just tig the 4x4 labs blocks on my stock knuckles. Billet 6 studs Marlin arms with arp studs and double shear arms would be sweet. 

Its the knuckle thats the limiter not the birf, and 6 stud arms dont do you as much good as MC's 25mm stud upgrade. I know it sucks but there has been some tech on Pirate about it. Its was amazing to see a steering arm pin break in half and still have all 6 studs still in tact and unbent. I would never have belived it but its true the pin breaks before the studs. I'll see if I can find it and post here for you guys to see.

[TacoRunner]

Here is an interesting one, no believe it or not I was not trying to illustrate anything bad about TG, just info about the steering pins. I know surprising aint it.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=862191

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=852179&highlight=busted+steering+arms

[87pickup [OP]]

Its the knuckle thats the limiter not the birf, and 6 stud arms dont do you as much good as MC's 25mm stud upgrade. I know it sucks but there has been some tech on Pirate about it. Its was amazing to see a steering arm pin break in half and still have all 6 studs still in tact and unbent. I would never have belived it but its true the pin breaks before the studs. I'll see if I can find it and post here for you guys to see.

I already have the 25mm upgrade on my 4 stud arms and would install them in the Marlin 6 stud arms. I havent bent or broke anything in my steering system with Marlin 4 stud arms, arp studs and 25mm upgrade, and i doubt i will ever break it. But Marlins 6 stud arms are like a collectord item and all it would cost me is the cost of the 4x4 labs blocks to weld on my knuckles for the additional 2 studs. My front axle will go more before the felts hit the balls but my toyota steerig ox doent have enough throw.

[junya92toy]

Also when you use forged, the steel is compressed and makes the grain stronger. And welding cast steel shouldnt be a problem. But I would still preheat it, maybe post heat it then let it slowly cool, put it in kitty litter.

[TacoRunner]

My front axle will go more before the felts hit the balls but my toyota steerig ox doent have enough throw.

Really! that is very interesting. Does it do that to both sides or just one?? Which steering box do you have, 4cyl or 6cyl? Sorry not trying tobe a pest just am very curious. Do others also have this probem.

[87pickup [OP]]

Not really sure if its 4 or 6 cyl sttering box since its not the original from my truck. But when i turn full lock my knuckles could go a little more but the steering box is maxed out. So either i would need a steering box with more throw or a longer pitman arm. When i first did the hydraulic assist i used a 6" psc ram and the steering box would max out but the ram would still push. so i sent it back to psc to have the internal spacer installed to limit it to 5.25 throw. Now the rams throw is matched to the box. I was talking to brian at fror and he said they run a different box and clearanced the knuckles on his ftoy to get like 37-38* steering. I think he too told me that a ifs box is the limiting factor at first for toyotas but then the knuckles and felts start hitting the knuckle balls. I even tried playing with the steering stops thinking someone had messed with the stops and that what was keeping it from going further but that wasnt the case.

[TacoRunner]

So what kind of angle do you think you're getting??

[87pickup [OP]]

Not really sure, never tried to measure it.

[TacoRunner]

So does this mean you're going to make your own pitman arm??

Oh ya, what did you think of the email I sent you?

[87pickup [OP]]

More steering angle isnt a huge deal for me but if i was to make a longer pitman arm it would get close to the draglink when stuffed. And if i link it which i want more than more steering when the suspension stuff the axle will move forward as opposed to back with leafs. And i can move my steering box any further forward since the lower bolt on my steering box mount is already up against my radiator.

And the email you sent was very informative and really explained all the terminolgy in easy to understand words. Thats been the biggest hang up for me, I hear all this terminlogy but no one spends the time to explain what each means, what it effects and the pros and cons. Thanks
Let me know when my setup is ready to order.