Are all gussets made the same or are any thicker than the other? Just looking to prolong while I am saving for the protocol 44. It's still a ways off as I didn't win the powerball.
Thank you both for the help. I looked thru other posts but couldn't find anything out on quality of kits.
There are ones out there that are solid blocks as opposed to formed steel that wraps around your c's but they aren't any better - just different. All of them will get the job done and to answer your first question, I would take the time to remove your ball joints before burning them in. If you are still running your original ball joints, I might even use the time to replace them or upgrade them.
I have plans to have my nephew weld on Evo-c gussets next week. I was not planning on removing the ball joints, but was going to install them according to your 2008 write up: http://project-jk.com/jeep-jk-write...-wrangler-c2-front-axle-reinforcement-gussets
I plan to be there when he welds, helping with the prep and making sure he takes it slow and cools the ball joints.
With more experience since 2008, has this method of slow weld and cooling the joints not proved to be effective? I have a 2012 with only 25,000 miles, so I assume I still have many miles of life left on my stock ball joints. I have had 315/70/17 on my jeep for about 2 1/2 years. I've been monitoring the camber and this year it jumped up from -0.1 to -0.7 degrees (just out side of factory limit), so I decided it was time to add the gussets.
I burned on EVO c-gussets at home, in the driveway, with my factory ball joints still installed. I stuck with 1/2"-3/4" beads, a bucket of water and lots of rags. That was about 8000-10000 miles ago and still no play in the ball joints.
You could probably get away with doing an inch at a time with a longer cool down time. I would almost do a shorter pass then that to air on the side of caution. I have never done gussets before so I don't know for sure; however, I do weld a lot. I know that at an inch of pass will start to create a lot of heat in that small area.
I burned on EVO c-gussets at home, in the driveway, with my factory ball joints still installed. I stuck with 1/2"-3/4" beads, a bucket of water and lots of rags. That was about 8000-10000 miles ago and still no play in the ball joints.