Reply To: Rear Axle Torque Arm Flex Joint Repair

[Gregory Long]

The material must be strong in tension. You can see the stretched section in the photo Randy posted. The stretched section shows the broken cords and compressed opposite side of the torque arm.

This is why drive-belting is used, it is designed to be strong in tension as it transfers power from one wheel to another.

If a mud flap has multiple layers of fabric, then it might work ok. But the mud flaps I’ve worked with only had one layer of cloth inside. They do make wonderful vibration isolator pads. The single layer of cloth keeping he rubber intact and not splitting and being pushed out from under the heavy machinery.

Old bias-ply 4-ply tire sidewalls would work. But radial tires often only have one or two layers of cord in their sidewalls. I was surprised to learn that Semi-Truck tires have only one layer in their sidewalls. but it is a woven steel cord. Semi truck tires run at 100-120psi, and are rated for 6000# loads.

Greg Long