Upper link bracket (3-link) won't fit on Moser axle??

[silver_pilate]

I'm in a pickle related to the fit of the upper link axle mount to the Moser rear I picked up from Mike. It's not close to fitting right now.

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o202/maco_man/FFR%20Roadster/93EEE651-211F-4C27-859D-1E9EAF97F0E3_zpsfspmqta1.jpg (http://s121.photobucket.com/user/maco_man/media/FFR%20Roadster/93EEE651-211F-4C27-859D-1E9EAF97F0E3_zpsfspmqta1.jpg.html)

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o202/maco_man/FFR%20Roadster/588957ED-05A8-4D97-B8C1-9C2EBB5EC6B8_zps4tedzmzs.jpg (http://s121.photobucket.com/user/maco_man/media/FFR%20Roadster/588957ED-05A8-4D97-B8C1-9C2EBB5EC6B8_zps4tedzmzs.jpg.html)

Thoughts?? Grinding off the powder coat and a few weld splatters on the brackets did nothing. Is there any concern with marking where the bracket fits on the axle tubes and grinding the surface down just a bit? These Moser tubes are pretty beefy; it would likely take 0.5mm on either side, give-or-take.

--Nathan

[GoDadGo]

My upper link bracket was welded in place, but it came directly from Moser.
Is this a 8.8 Ford style rear end or is this the TSD-500 (Dana-44) style set up?
Mine is the TSD-500.

[silver_pilate]

GoDadGo, I'm not sure. I was waiting for a good while as Mike Forte was looking for stock Ford housings, but they are getting hard to find it seems. He finally ended up ordering a palet of housings from Moser. I'm pretty sure they're 8.8 style. I'll give him a call for his suggestion as well.

--Nathan

[silver_pilate]

Mike says he wouldn't grind on the axle housing, but he'd open up the "c" on the bracket to fit. I don't think there is enough meat on the bracket to support opening it up and still being able to just bolt it on and go for it, so it would mean taking it somewhere to get it welded. Not really what I wanted to have to do. Ah well...any other thoughts?

--Nathan

[cnutting]

That looks about normal. You need to remove the powdercoat from all mating surfaces. Extend out all around a bit for welding. Wire brush attachment on my drill did the trick. Drill out the bolt holes, install one or two bolts and continue to the match drill the holes. Eventually you will get them together, it's an iterative process. Before they are fully snugged, put a taper prybar hole in the pumpkin flange into the bracket. This will need to be drilled out a bit as well. Cross your fingers and tighten everything down. Then weld the bracket to the axle and flange.This will ensure things don't rotate.

Here's mine from a couple months ago:

http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=53496&d=1462234244

Chris

ps... after welding I went back in and touched everything up with POR-15...