Brackets in Mild or 4130 ?

[Garage Dog 65]

Gents,

Getting ready to waterjet my suspension bracket files. Reading a couple chassis books and they recommend that all brackets be made in 4130. I don't doubt that would be a better bracket material for strength and toughness – and I plan on doing it if it makes sense.

Just wondering what welding challenges I’ll face welding those onto mild steel tubing ? Any special filler rods or heat treating process I should be aware of ? Should I stick with mild steel for the brackets too ?

In aviation we do the whole deal in 4130 and heat treat the assy after finish welding. Racing is probably the same, but I don’t plan on doing the rails in 4130.

Your help is ALWAYS greatly appreciated.

Thx, Jim

[68protouring454]

are we talking uca,lca brackets etc? if so mild is more then enough, yeah 4130 is better but not really needed, goodluck

[Garage Dog 65]

Yes, upper, lower, engine, transxl and body mounts. I thought Mild would be more then enough and would eliminate any welding or heat treating issues.

Thanks very much for the guidance and fast responce Jake !

Jim

[TravisB]

Mild steel will do the job just fine

[Musclerodz]

If weight is a concern then use 4130. You will be able to run thinner 4130 plate due to its higher strength

Mike

[rocketman]

If your not doing the chassis in 4130 the brackets don't need to be, If your not gonna racing I wouldn't worry about, many of the circle track cars are just mild steel, and many bracket cars are mild steel.

[jason@gmachine]

4130

we use nothing but 4130 and i would never think twice about using 1020. In fact we stopped ordering 1020 sheet about 9 months ago. I have several full sheets of 4130 in several different thickness in stock for the cnc table.

4130, or nothing at all.
just my 2 cents.

Jason

[ironworks]

Jim< 4130 is great idea if you are doing the rest of the car in 4130. It is actually better to weld 4130 brackets to 4130 tubing, You can get away mixing them. We are starting on a tube chassis car with complete 4130 tubing and plate. It is expensive, but worth it. But it does seem that the price of 4130 has not risen and much as mild steel in the past few years. So if you doing you car in DOM, you might consider just bending it all out of
4130.

Good luck, DAD Rodger

[Silver69Camaro]

Originally Posted by jason@gmachine

4130

i would never think twice about using 1020...4130, or nothing at all.

Jason

And why?

[MarkM66]

Shouldn't thickness of the metal also be put into the equation?