What is this and is there a mod for it?

[crashman]

after the china wall trip I was inspecting my truck and found i scratched this "brace" ( at least it is what I believe it to be) I tried to search but i don't know the name of it... is there a different type that doesn't hang so low? is it the same on the newer 4th gen?

 

[Tucson4runner]

Got a pic from farther away. Or a pic from under the truck. I can't figure out what it is.

 

[crashman]

here are two more pictures i will try and get more in the daylight tomorrow

 

[NJshadow93]

Those are the thing's you can see hanging underneath the truck if you take the running boards off, right?

 

[crashman]

lol yeah I didn't notice them before

 

[Tucson4runner]

You should be good to take em off I believe its just extra support for the running boards. Does it look like its holding anything else?

 

[crashman]

I thought it was for the transmission it goes from the frame to the center support
I was just wanting to get all the things that may hit rocks protected
I didn't know if the newer trucks had different one or if there is a after market one

 

[NJshadow93]

You should be good to take em off I believe its just extra support for the running boards. Does it look like its holding anything else?

I don't think they had anything to do with the running boards. When I took the running boards off they were just held on by the bolts. These are more toward the center of the truck. It looked to me like it was holding up skid plates but I'm probably wrong. I would go look right now but it's pitch black and freezing lol

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Got a pic from farther away. Or a pic from under the truck. I can't figure out what it is.

Its a bolt-on tubular structure support that attaches to the frame rails and crossmember. I believe it is a structrual element designed to stiffen the crossmember and partially protect the exhaust.

Honestly you could probably fabricate your own versions that are stronger and have a slimmer profile. I believe when you install aftermarket skid plates such as Budd Builts they get replaced with a mounting structure he provides, I may be wrong on that though.

 

[crashman]

I will have to look closer tomorrow it may just be for the running boards

 

[riceandpho]

i think it just a brace for the frame, i use those as jack stand points when needed, but i dont use the bar, i use the bolts.

 

[crashman]

thanks guys I will try and call budbuilt tomorrow and ask about it i will let you know what they say
thanks again

 

[BlackWorksInc]

It is not for the running boards, they are structrual supports to tie the frame rails to the transmission crossmember.

 

[Casper421]

Could they also be skids for the cats? :shrug: Looks like the supports go right over them.

 

[ClockWork]

So you wan't to replace that because of a scratch?

Notsureifserious.

 

[crashman]

So you wan't to replace that because of a scratch?

Notsureifserious.

LOL no Clockwork I am not that bad

I just was looking and thought this may have been changed on the newer trucks so it didn't hang down I then was looking at skid plates online and noticed I didn't see these braces, so i wanted to find out how/if they were modded
I also found out the transmission brace on the 05 is different than newer 4th gen's

 

[Doozi]

It is not for the running boards, they are structrual supports to tie the frame rails to the transmission crossmember.

I agree. I have the same thing... I'm not certain that they are exactly identical, but very close and they are definitely a structural brace. There may have been some slight design tweaks between the years, but I think that we all have them.

crashman: I can take some measurements tonight if you wanted to compare yours to an '06. Just let me know.

 

[CAN-03runner]

I think you are refering to these? part 51225 and 51225 FRAME. Fits: 2005 TOYOTA 4Runner SR-5 4700CC 32-VALVE DOHC EFI, AUTOMATIC 5-SPEED | Village Toyota Parts

The skid plates don't remove those bars. But a larger portion of the bars do become covered. I don't think I have see an alternative for those.

Often those will get scraped up on the rocks, and you could potentially end up sitting on them. I haven't personally seen one fail. And I can't remember reading about one fail either. Many people do refer to them as cat protectors.

 

[crashman]

Thanks CAN-03runner,
yeah thats what I was talking about

thanks Doozi I would be interested if they hang lower on the 06 but from what CAN-03runner says they are not something i will worry about.

I sprayed them with the krylon bed liner

 

[Huskey]

The part you are talking about is not technically structural however it does support the suspension from the crossmember.

Prior to my lift I beat the crap out of those and nearly made them into a pounded in half cirlce. I had plans to replace them, then found a guy who could make a lower profile support of equal strength and we made plans to just fabricate something better then stock. However, once I found the lift I wanted I saw it had replacements so I didnt bother. Here is some pics of what came in the Fj kit allowing me to rip out the tubes. I'm sure you can get something made up if you wanted.



They deffinatly sit lower then the stock tubing.



Also, these were not a perfect fit.