Strentghening IRS Cradle

[John]

Hey all,

Will be getting my new diff center soon. I have heard the rear IRS cradles are prone to cracking. I won't know if mine is cracked till i pull the old center out but would like to know how i can strengthen it (While i have it out i may aswell)

Ive read that you just need to weld a 6mm plate to the top and bottom of the cradle but im not sure if thats just all i need to do (Sandwiching the top of the cradle between two 6mm plates)

Does anyone also know the torque limits before it cracks?

Will be approaching 500rwhp in the next month or two, would hate to get rough in 2nd or 4th and hear a nice thud from behind.

Any ideas would be appeciated

[stealthvn/mr vr ss]

there is a lace that dose them on i think i seen them on street commodores prob worth looking there or google it has been a big problem for people with high 300rwhp and manuals

[Kruza]

i have heard, and seen, the rear cradles cracking..[ask hoon with his Vp berlina..lol]

but i have never heard of plating the cradle..you can do such a thing, but makin sure its engineered for starters is another thing..:(

if ur cradle is bent, or starting to crack john, come see me, as i have 2 spare cradles here to suit irs..wayne, anthony, and dru have my number, and know where i live..
u can have 1, as i dont need them any more..:)

both in good nick, as they cost ya 100 from the wreckers around brissie..:(

[EQUIPE-T]

Holden went cheap when welding the cradles together unfortunatly, but they used a different weld on all HSV VT and VX ( no idea why, but hey this is holden where talking about :hit head: ) i think the VT cradle fits a VS ( might have to check ) if it doesnt then just un tack your cradle and reweld with high quality weld

[John]

Cheers kruza.

If mine aint cracked im gonna try plating it, if it is cracked i'll give ya call.

As far as transport will go they will have to pull it out to find it :P. Its basically up around the top thats the problem. They crack around the bolt points and from twisting action.

Can't see how it would make the car unsafe through. More rigid in the arse maybe.

Found some info on SC, when i do it ill take plenty of pic's and do a write up.
Uni mate is doing engineering so i will get his input on the stress points. Although i can see where it would be from pictures i'll get his input to be certain.

[Darren]

yeah from what I've heard they don't crack at the welds, they crack at the mounts. Apparently the VX onward had a stronger cradle, plus had the extra control arm. Might be worth looking into.

We've got some guys on here with big hp pre VE -IRS cars (like BigJim etc). Check out the members rides section and send one of these guys a PM. They might be able to help

[Kruza]

hoons cradle in his VP Berlina crackd along the top, [where the diff botled in,]
hence why his rear wheels began to touch the inner guards..:(
big mess if ya ask me, lol


thats cool john. just ask wayne or anthony for my number, or pm here..:)