I'm wondering whether welding to the frame is a 'no-no?' Will it weaken it or make it too brittle? Maybe I can weld to the bracket (see picture) and be ok?
Thanks for your help!
Mark

 

You don't have to weld on the frame ,just cut the bottom off and weld it back on high up on the shackle bracket. But you have to also move the front one or you will rotate the diff. As far as I know the dodge frame is just a stamped rail. I have notched my frame and after a couple years all is good . Oh and if you do weld right on the frame grind the crap out of it first. We had a little trouble getting started.

 

I hope you dont get offended by me adding this, but i had a question similar to yours about the frame on my 91. Where the front shackle is on the drivers side, the frame is getting kind of soft and i noticed the other day that there was a crack starting right in front of where the shackle mounts. What i am wondering is, would it hurt anything if i were to have angle iron welded on the inside of the frame, as a support and so that it doesnt break any further.

 

These frames can handle weld ons. But keep the heat down by welding sections at a time to spread out the heat. And prep the area correctly by griding down the metal and using weld on primer will be best to keep rust down. And use thicker metal then stock will keep the strength up. And weld properly, and don't under do it.

 

... or over do it. It's just as bad to glob on all of that wire and get no penetration.

 

After re-examining my frame, i found it was worse than i originally thought, and after making a new post about it, crazy4x4 said it would be better to just replace that section, than to try and weld to it. Now im just trying to find where i can get replacement sections for my truck.

 

For those who didnt see my other post, here is what i am trying to repair;









Everey truck i have seen in the local salvage yards is pretty much the same way, so cutting a section out of one of them is definitely out. It seems to be a NY thing, because i have lived in other states and havent seen anything this bad anywhere else. This is the second dakota i have owned that was like this.

 

yeah, you're right in the snow belt so you got all of that road salt working against you, you almost have to wash all of the salt off after every block you drive to keep up with it, my uncle lives out there and has the same issue with not only frame damage but with body damage from rust