Lower Shock & Link Mount Reinforcement
 

6/24/19 EDIT: Lower Link Reinforcement Skids ordering info starts here.


Hey guys, a friend of mine bent his lower shock mount on the axle of his 4th gen 4Runner, so I'm working on a reinforcement kit to strengthen that area.

Here's the failure:

https://independentoffroading.com/in...82037-jpg.917/

and here’s where I am so far:

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...b4b5c78eb4.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...5aece48970.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...5019dae14c.jpg

I’m currently working on the link mount, since they are married on this axle.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...8ade66de97.jpg

As with the 3rd gen, aftermarket joints don’t have a ton of room for misalignment in there...

Above is the big MetalCloak joint which should have 17° of movement, but because of the width of the factory mount it is limited to 12°.

On the 3rd gen, the depth of the mounts are an issue with big joints, here it is width.

For comparison, here’s the wide Currie Johnny Joint, limited to less than 9°:

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...9768d394dc.jpg

and the narrow version of the Johnny Joint, which could potentially get 17°, although I doubt that Joint has the capacity for that much misalignment? If anyone knows, please chime in - it may affect the size & location of the flange in the image. I definitely don't want to have to redesign for clearance there after I start making these! ;)

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...57cb9ffa8d.jpg


I'll update as I get the link mounts worked out.. (I have some ideas about the interface between them and the shock mount reinforcement that I need to prove out)

Pic didn't load for me, so here's another one.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...7319096444.jpg

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

Those are nice. I was planning on welding some plate stock to mine anyway since one has a rust hole in it! It just looked scaly until I sandblasted the frame, then once all the scale was removed, I got to see the areas needing reinforcement, and that was one of them. When will they be available?

I went with

FJ Cruiser/4Runner/GX470 Outpost Off Road Link Guards

and

ICON 4Runner Shock Guard | 4Runner Off Road Parts

I'm proving out the printed parts this weekend, then I'll send the files out for quoting - should be 3-4 weeks to production parts.

I actually started the modeling for a lower link reinforcement skid yesterday, after not seeing anything available that I liked. :)

It will be similar to the one I make for the 3rd gen.

Picture not show for me nieghter. Might be something I would take interest in.
Years ago I had to weld on reinforcements to my lower link to frame due to bashing them all up, before these aftermarket designed parts were available.
I'm not so kind on my ride like you also, I've bashed the shit out of that area also when on 32s.
Haven't been able to bend mine like that, YET.

Sorry about that photo link - I’ll try to fix it this evening.

I think I’m pretty much done with the modeling on these - I’ll send for quotes this week.

Here’s how everything fits together; 3/16” plate with lots of weld areas - and the factory lower link mount can be shaved for additional clearance:

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...be52061071.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...a8631c3aed.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...2832c52abb.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...f56b1c6cfb.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...9a5dd31173.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...815595e596.jpg

And I took these this morning under a different buddy’s truck - looks like he’s tagged his lower link mounts as well:

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...8ea828976b.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...f9fa81b066.jpg

Lower Shock & Link Mount Reinforcement
 

These are ready to go out for quoting also (I had a busy week!):

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...17e767ec31.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...96ef5cd67a.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...759577b888.jpg

Not sure how the other two guys deal with the planes on the inside of the mount; it took some time to figure out how to hug the mount but still be able to install it in one piece.

WOW! What's the back story here? Did something kink the mount and then it collapsed?

Just came down hard on a rock, is my understanding. The factory built it with an unsupported bend, which is kinda crazy.. - particularly because they hang down so damn low!

We can use these in the landcruiser 80 world!!!