Aftermarket option for “front suspension member bracket”
- Thread starter Fried Rice
- Start date
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Runnin on E
Member
Why even replace it? I smashed those two on my FJ within the first month I had it and took them both off back in 2007. I've been running without them since. I think they are there to protect the CAT IDK.
Fried Rice
Junior Member
You’re not wrong but I figure Toyota put it there for a reason so I’d at least look into it. I don’t want to throw $150 at this problem but if there was an aftermarket option around $50 I might have gone for it.
MikeinNH67
Senior Member
It's a steel brace, aftermarket is fine. The tough part will be removing the fasteners without breaking them.
cwilliams563
Member
That is the truth! I have tried taking out 3 of my bolts so far so I could get aftermarket skids installed through those bolt holes. All three of those bolts (on both brackets) just sheared right off, broke and stuck in the frame now, and never stood a chance.
I just ordered 8 cross member brace bolts. I know I’m going to break every single one of those stupid things, and plan on having to drill out all 8! Ugh….
MikeinNH67
Senior Member
Often times there's nuts on the inside that are just tacked in. A punch and hammer will often pop them off. Hopefully not with a rusted part of the frame though. Having a spot to fish a nut in is sometimes tough. On a tank hanger bolt, it was easier to fish a bolt in so it hung down and then put the nut on the outside.
cwilliams563
Member
Yeah these dang “Weld nuts” have been a bear for me too. If the bolt doesn’t break or shear off at the head, there’s a chance that the damn weld nut will break at the tack weld inside the frame, leaving me with another difficult situation to deal with once again.
Definitely not looking forward to whatever outcome happens with 8 total bolts, because either is a huge PITA!
