Strengthening of rear axle arm

[Mendip.Wursel]

I just strengthened the rear wheel axle arm on my Lomax 223. The collapsing of this arm has always worried me, especially when I hit potholes and on bumpy roads. I think I may have got over the top a bit with the strengthening. Hopefully I won't have any worries on bumpy road in the future. I welded 25mm box section to the top and bottom of the arm and add a few other bits of metal. All now refitted and ready to go .....

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[QFAD]

Well Mendip,

I reckon the chassis would buckle before your swinging are does!

[Jimmy Cooper]

Nice job! Do you know what that adds to the unsprung weight?

[howardjs]

Nice job, definitely worth doing...several 223 arms have cracked at the square to round joint or twisted at the brake drum.
Hope that's not rust on the brake pipe or its an MOT failure...
4mm dia copper tube is available at the same place as the Enots fittings supplier.. not more rust..!

[Mendip.Wursel]

Nice job, definitely worth doing...several 223 arms have cracked at the square to round joint or twisted at the brake drum.
Hope that's not rust on the brake pipe or its an MOT failure...
4mm dia copper tube is available at the same place as the Enots fittings supplier.. not more rust..!

Yep, I agree in that I have seen arms crack at the square to round joint and I made the arm extra strong around this area for exactly that reason. My wife and I are quite heavy so always a bit of a worry, especially when we have taken Lomax abroad .... we also have a camping trailer which adds to the weight. I have seen people cutting holes through the fiberglass tub to get the axle out but I found it came out easily with room to spare without cutting anything. The extra weight is negligible as the 25mm x 25mm box section steel is hollow.
I pasted copper grease on the brake pipes for protection, which is why they are a rusty colour.

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[hutchii]

Mendip.Wursel
I'm not intending to criticize but, I'm surprised that your newly strengthen rear end doesn't appear to link the 2 springs. If that's the case, given what you've said about weight, and the trailer adding further load, it might be worth considering. It's been done in a variety of ways by members. I don't think I've seen any pictures of these mods on the "New forum" but I'm fairly sure it was discussed on the old one.

[Mendip.Wursel]

Mendip.Wursel
I'm not intending to criticize but, I'm surprised that your newly strengthen rear end doesn't appear to link the 2 springs. If that's the case, given what you've said about weight, and the trailer adding further load, it might be worth considering. It's been done in a variety of ways by members. I don't think I've seen any pictures of these mods on the "New forum" but I'm fairly sure it was discussed on the old one.

The 2 rear springs are linked, but through the center of the axle so not visable.... see photos below.
Thanks
Kevin

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[david]

that is very clever stuff....A+