NateMob's "DD" Build

[4-Ripcord]

Damn 1/4"?! that thing will be unbendable!

 

[Fishwerks]

Those links are sick! Great build, I like all the wheeling pictures. Oh and cute pup too.

 

[4ever4running]

Damn dude the links look incredible!

 

[Toyotacolin]

Man, I almost look forward to bending my second set just to have you make me some now!

 

[SCRunner12]

When the F are we going to get to see this new bumper on?

 

[4-Ripcord]

I've seen pics on Facebook of it, looks so cool!

 

[smkd13]

Yeah i know, just didnt have the $400 laying around after I had to replace the hot water heater at my rental property back in Carolina. Its usually awesome having someone else pay my mortgage, except when something breaks and my property management company just takes the money for the work done and i get whats left.

Anyway, I knew i wanted to build some beef lower links after bending both of mine in the rocks. I pm'ed [MENTION=58958]PATCO[/MENTION] about the components that he uses in all of his awesome looking links and he helped me out considerably.

I feel that square tubing is stronger for this application as opposed to round tubing as it should theoretically resist bending to a greater degree. IMO! Not to mention easier to straighten back out and reinforce once i do bend it. I also had it laying around, I was able to go with a smaller outside diameter for clearance and still having a ridiculously thick wall thickness.

I used american steel 1.5" x 1.5" x 1/4"wall square tubing for the links. I measured about ten times before cutting the donor factory links apart as i would be reusing two of the factory bushing sockets for the axle ends. For the frame end i took Patco's advice and went with Summit Machine's flex joint as i knew i didnt want to give money to Trail Gear or Currie. I was impressed by their quality and will use them again when the time comes, they are built so that as the delrin like plastic internals wear, you can tighten them to take up any slack. They also come tapped for a set screw and zerk fitting to keep them greased.

For the other end i just went with factory bushings to keep vibrations down, I also didnt want a rod end/flex joint of any kind at the axle end because of how much more road and trail grim it will see as opposed to the frame side joint.

I needed to keep the stock length to avoid clearance issues with my rear bumper so 23 1/8" was my goal for total end to end length. After some careful cutting, notching, and TIG welding this is my result. Links that weigh right at 10lbs a piece.



Took them back to work and sanded everything down smooth before rattle canning them. I didnt bother priming them, when these get hit, primer wont make a difference. I was too excited and pressed for time to wait to press and assemble the ends after paint so they had to be masked off.


Not much too look at, but i know they are BEEFY!

Up next tomorrow, I have a leaking front axle seal that needs attention and not really sure how far it needs to be seated on the passenger side, from what i have read the right side doesnt have a stop so it can go in too far. Any advice from anyone that has done one already?

Next weekend, locker install! :becky:

well i think you just convinced me to go with a square tube on my lowers but and let me know how you like the Summit Machine joints. I am planning on use those. looks hella sweet bud and will you get that bumper on already lol

 

[TRDteen]

well i think you just convinced me to go with a square tube on my lowers but and let me know how you like the Summit Machine joints. I am planning on use those. looks hella sweet bud and will you get that bumper on already lol

I've seen pics on Facebook of it, looks so cool!

just post the damn pictures already! :biggrin2:

 

[NateMob]

Awesome job on the links! How did you notch the tubing?

Thanks man, all i used for my notching was a small bodied angle grinder with a cutoff wheel. Set everything up in a vice, laid my angles out with a protractor to match the bushing sockets and went to town. I took conservative cuts to keep from going too far and having to fill big gaps.

you wanta make me a set!? you have some killer welds there my friend! if i had a welder at home i would be making these all day long. but no welder access any more.

Thanks Isaac, I have thought about it. Now i understand why they cost so much to buy premade, there is a lot more work to them than i thought! Tedious really, a couple of the factory bushings took 17 tons of pressure to be pressed out! Our shop press was starting to flex a bit under the load.

I like the build up and the control arms. I finally installed my rear springs the other day. Well I was under there...I decided I want to build some control arms with flex joints. What size joints did you use?

Thanks Mr. Rattle, I appreciate you checking out my build, joints i went with were Summit Machines Medium joint. I got the recommendation from Patco who also builds some awesome looking arms.

Those look really nice!

Thanks Pat, and thanks for all of your help. Now build yourself some!

Nice lower links! I'm getting ready to put some angle iron on mine. Cheap and it will stiffen them up enough to where I don't need to worry. Plus it's 7 bucks for 10 foot of it! Did you have to press those bushings in? Mine are getting close to where I need to do something about them.

Where's that bumper :spy:.

I thought about building with angle but once mine were bent i figured it was time to build something from scratch. Yours turned out great by the way. Yeah the factory bushings had to be pressed out/in but the Summit Flex Joints are assembled by hand, pretty easy and fun really.

Damn 1/4"?! that thing will be unbendable!

Thats the plan, guess we will see.

Those links are sick! Great build, I like all the wheeling pictures. Oh and cute pup too.

Thanks dude for the kind words, and as far as the wheeling, its what i have it for! The puppy is growing like a weed, she has gotten pretty big so far, she outgrew the passenger footwell already.

Damn dude the links look incredible!

Thanks boss!

Man, I almost look forward to bending my second set just to have you make me some now!

Ill be waiting, i know you can do it. :becky:

When the F are we going to get to see this new bumper on?

Just the push i needed! What front bumper are you currently considering? Last i saw you were selling the Demello, nice pick up with the SC!

I've seen pics on Facebook of it, looks so cool!

Thanks bud, any updates or a build thread floating around of the A4?

well i think you just convinced me to go with a square tube on my lowers but and let me know how you like the Summit Machine joints. I am planning on use those. looks hella sweet bud and will you get that bumper on already lol

Glad i could help you with something! So far they are great, they noticeably loosened up some more flex in the rear and they are quiet, no squeaks. Bumper has been on, just been busy with a couple other projects.

just post the damn pictures already! :biggrin2:

Here ya go, thanks for stopping by buddy!



Here is the new T4R3 Hybrid Bumper from CBI Offroad Fabrication.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/100545663@N05/9557027225/" title="IMG_9942sm by natemob7, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3689/9557027225_73ac129124_b.jpg" width="1024" height="689" alt="IMG_9942sm"></a>

Back in May, I had the incredible opportunity to be the first with the production version of CBI's newest addition to its 3rd Gen armor lineup. A hybrid style front winch bumper to complement the slick lines of their rear hybrid design already available. From the first photos i saw of the prototype i knew it was the bumper i could finally pull the trigger on. Unlike anything else available on the market to us, it combined the lightweight strength of a well designed tube bumper with the added protection, durability, and coverage of a plate bumper. All wrapped into a bumper with built-in winch mount, holes for fog lamps down low along with mounting holes for a light bar on the top plate. I was the guinea pig for the 1st one after the prototype, so i was able to provide feedback to Nathan and the rest of the CBI guys on what i saw could be tweaked and made better for full production.


Pricing is to be determined and official announcement is still about a month out from last i heard. I am sure they will post up the details when all the details are ironed out. A pleasure to deal with through the entire experience and i could not be happier with how it turned out. Front and rear bumper were both powdercoated though CBI and arrived in great shape, only a couple small knicks in the finish that were caused by the shipping company. No fault of CBI's, the method they now ship their bumpers keeps them pristine.

Now for the pictures!

Ha, what can brown do for you?


Separate front plate that makes installing a winch a breeze.




Loaded with a 10k winch and 20" dual row LED bar.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/100545663@N05/9559808988/" title="IMG_9961sm by natemob7, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3809/9559808988_e2aa0f7124_b.jpg" width="683" height="1024" alt="IMG_9961sm"></a>

No hook because a Factor 55 is on the way.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/100545663@N05/9559810490/" title="IMG_9956sm by natemob7, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7394/9559810490_31e78a34f7_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="IMG_9956sm"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/100545663@N05/9559809750/" title="IMG_9957sm by natemob7, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2878/9559809750_939e20cb79_b.jpg" width="1024" height="982" alt="IMG_9957sm"></a>

Ties into the body mounts for extra reinforcement.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/100545663@N05/9559812020/" title="IMG_9950sm by natemob7, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5450/9559812020_9cb737c1e2_b.jpg" width="683" height="1024" alt="IMG_9950sm"></a>

Lots of tire clearance.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/100545663@N05/9557024469/" title="IMG_9949sm by natemob7, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3744/9557024469_71c220c734_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="IMG_9949sm"></a>

I think she's pretty sexy.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/100545663@N05/9557024971/" title="IMG_9969sm by natemob7, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3781/9557024971_409fbdc9fc_b.jpg" width="1024" height="655" alt="IMG_9969sm"></a>

Another from the front corner.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/100545663@N05/9559814904/" title="IMG_9945ps by natemob7, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7405/9559814904_dd765a0800_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="IMG_9945ps"></a>

And the moneyshot!
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/100545663@N05/9559839812/" title="IMG_9944ps by natemob7, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7393/9559839812_9ea9330ff3_b.jpg" width="1024" height="921" alt="IMG_9944ps"></a>

These will probably be the last shots of it in brand new condition. Shakedown run this Sunday before the 4-day, Toyota 4x4 exclusive, Thrill on the Hill 2013 next weekend! 87 toyotas registered for a weekend of awesome food, cool people, bad ass trucks and great desert wheelin'!

Thanks for being patient, it was hard keeping this big ass secret from all my T4R brothers!

 

[the great him]

dude that bumper is awesome! i love it, if i didnt already have a ARB id really look into that.

on a side note, what bug shield are you running?

 

[downpour11]

Oh man that is sick! :thumb3:

 

[SCRunner12]

Just the push i needed! What front bumper are you currently considering? Last i saw you were selling the Demello, nice pick up with the SC!

I guess that was worth waiting for....:thumb3: Looks pretty freaking sweet!

I really have no clue what bumper I'm looking for. I'm selling the Demello as it will take a bit more work than I'd like to mount it and I eventually want a winch so no use hacking my front end up for a bumper I won't keep long term. I really like the All Pro Apex and Elite bumper (still bitter I couldn't get Jerry's). I'll most likely go plate as it's just a bit cleaner and there aren't many tube rear bumpers out there. A bumper will be a while down the road as I need to address some maintenance first. I can't wait to get the sc on, but it won't be for another month or so unfortunately.

 

[BrianSD_42]

I just got caught up on your build thread.

So many trips and great pics; NM looks like a state with a lot of really cool trails. I especially liked the frozen waterfall.

Sorry to see the broken CV problems but I'm not surprised. Auto zone and Napa CVs are getting a reputation around here for being quite weak. I stuck with OEM (rebooted for $175) but you are clearly hitting much harder trails. Also the tire carnage .. Wow that sucks for your buddy.

The rest of the truck and especially the new bumper looks pretty badass.

 

[smkd13]

Yep that is a sexy bumper!!! CBI did an awesome job on that one for sure. And glad they are stepping up and making a hybrid bumper finally. I hopefully will have my custom one from them sometime in October ad I am thinking am am going to try and plan to go to TOTH next year. Let me know how the meet it

 

[txbonds]

That looks awesome man.

We've been talking about this for a while but Now that you've posted pictures I guess I can finally spill the beans to the forum that this is the secret front bumper I have under construction as well. Mine goes into production next week. It will be powder coated black with full hoops. I'm having a few custom features added.

After seeing how well yours looks I'm super thrilled about mine. :thumb3:

 

[LINY4Runner]

GORGEOUS pics and great looking bumper! I'm a fan!

 

[BigRogers]

These will probably be the last shots of it in brand new condition. Shakedown run this Sunday before the 4-day, Toyota 4x4 exclusive, Thrill on the Hill 2013 next weekend! 87 toyotas registered for a weekend of awesome food, cool people, bad ass trucks and great desert wheelin'!

Thanks for being patient, it was hard keeping this big ass secret from all my T4R brothers!

Nate -
Bumper is sick man. never seen anything like it. bet it feels good to be the first one rolling it. Cant wait to see it in person over the TOTH weekend. Oh yeah and meet you to! :thumb3:

 

[cdrewferd]

Like has been said, that bumper is sick. Can't wait till they announce it.

 

[4ever4running]

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/100545663@N05/9559839812/" title="IMG_9944ps by natemob7, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7393/9559839812_9ea9330ff3_b.jpg" width="1024" height="921" alt="IMG_9944ps"></a>

:jaw: That bumper is just flat out sexy.

 

[sh000ter]

Amazing build