It finally happened.... rear lower control arm frame support snapped off...

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That kit is interesting. I haven't seen it before, I didn't look to hard but I wonder how thick the steel is? I had 3/16" steel in my garage already so I just used that. I used lots of drill bits too. I drilled into the frame to see where the metal was bad and then to find good metal to weld to. Then made a box with the steel I had and welded it all together.
 
Any interest in helping a fellow twincitian get his 4Runner back on the road? :P

I figured it would go but I didn't figure it would be totally un-drivable when it did.
 
Better to drill some drain holes in that Ebay repair section in front of the control arm mount. Don't want to be repeating the process any time soon
 
None of you are concerned about leaving that rusty ass metal on the vehicle? Isn't the main reason for doing rust repair is to GET RID OF THE RUST. You need to get that frame down to good metal to really slow the rust process. If all you plan on doing is welding good metal over a rusted out frame you haven't fixed anything. Not to mention the fact that the control arm mount isn't attached anymore.

Instead of paying $125 for that kit I would go buy the metal locally, buy a grinder, buy some beer, and still save money over that kit. You only need 1/8" steel to weld in place of the rusted metal.

If it were me I would buy a new control arm mount, and some 1/8" cold rolled steel. Then take a grinder to the frame, and start removing material. I would check the frame all the way up to the first cross member to see how it looks. You might need to weld in more than you think if the metal is bad. After you've removed the rusty metal, and have good solid metal you can move forward.
 
MStudt said:
None of you are concerned about leaving that rusty ass metal on the vehicle? Isn't the main reason for doing rust repair is to GET RID OF THE RUST. You need to get that frame down to good metal to really slow the rust process. If all you plan on doing is welding good metal over a rusted out frame you haven't fixed anything. Not to mention the fact that the control arm mount isn't attached anymore.

Instead of paying $125 for that kit I would go buy the metal locally, buy a grinder, buy some beer, and still save money over that kit. You only need 1/8" steel to weld in place of the rusted metal.

If it were me I would buy a new control arm mount, and some 1/8" cold rolled steel. Then take a grinder to the frame, and start removing material. I would check the frame all the way up to the first cross member to see how it looks. You might need to weld in more than you think if the metal is bad. After you've removed the rusty metal, and have good solid metal you can move forward.
Click to expand...

Uh, I suggested he replace the whole damn truck.... :bigok:
 
Cree said:
Uh, I suggested he replace the whole damn truck.... :bigok:
Click to expand...

That's one way to get rid of the rust permanently! :bravo:

The simple fact that the control arm bracket ripped off is a good sign the damage is more widespread than that area alone.
 
That kit is garbage. A couple pieces of metal - over top of the rust???- WTF.

Here's a diagram of the frame.

TOYOTA 4RUNNER VZN180L-GKPZKA, 51504 BRACKET SUB-ASSY, LOWER CONTROL LINK SUPPORT, LH

Those rear LCA brackets are available individually. A quick search shows they are around $60 each. Find a welder and he'll cut cut all the metal you need (and cut out all the rusted metal) and weld up the new brackets. Obviously this won't fix all the rest of the rust you probably have but it might get you going. Post of some pics of your undercarriage and if it's bad enough then the frame replacement or replacement truck may be better options.
 
JRZEE2000TR4LTD said:
That kit is garbage. A couple pieces of metal - over top of the rust???- WTF.

Here's a diagram of the frame.

TOYOTA 4RUNNER VZN180L-GKPZKA, 51504 BRACKET SUB-ASSY, LOWER CONTROL LINK SUPPORT, LH

Those rear LCA brackets are available individually. A quick search shows they are around $60 each. Find a welder and he'll cut cut all the metal you need (and cut out all the rusted metal) and weld up the new brackets. Obviously this won't fix all the rest of the rust you probably have but it might get you going. Post of some pics of your undercarriage and if it's bad enough then the frame replacement or replacement truck may be better options.
Click to expand...

I would wonder how to correctly re-localise the new LCA after removing the old ones and all the rusted metal around though. I guess this thing needs to be pretty much dead-on or you'll have a permanent rear alignment problem.
 
Follow Up.

I've got a 1997 that did the same thing as yours at about the same time. It's been parked for a while but I was ready to dig in and do something again. Checking back in interested in what you ended up doing with yours?
 
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