3rd gen lower link skids

[4x4mike]

Not to hijack any more posts I thought I'd make my own thread. I've bashed my lower link mounts a couple of times but haven't done any real damage. I've seen posts here and other places where people are roaching their mounts and having to replace them. I'd rather not have to cut something off my frame and reweld (even though I'd have someone else do it). There isn't really anything out there for the 3rd gen 4runners so I thought I'd make something and try it out.

This is my un-bashed mount for reference.

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e13/mezamichael82/Skid%20Plates/DSC07636.jpg


Made a template. Rather hastily as I later found out.

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e13/mezamichael82/Skid%20Plates/DSC07638.jpg

It fits. I'd rock it.

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e13/mezamichael82/Skid%20Plates/DSC07642.jpg

Cut out some metal.

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e13/mezamichael82/Skid%20Plates/DSC07645.jpg

Stuck it together.

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e13/mezamichael82/Skid%20Plates/DSC07657.jpg

And then tried to put it on. At first it didn't go on all the way so I got the mallet. It went on a little more but not all the way. I peeked under the mount a little more and realized I didn't take into consideration the factory bend in the mount :tongueout:

Instead of throwing everything out I decided to do a little trimming and call it good.

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e13/mezamichael82/Skid%20Plates/DSC07660.jpg

Installed and looking at the bend. I guess the cardboard was that much more flexible and I didn't notice it.

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e13/mezamichael82/Skid%20Plates/DSC07665.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e13/mezamichael82/Skid%20Plates/DSC07662.jpg


I'll probably get some longer bolts tomorrow. The stock ones fit fine and the nut goes on completely but it'll be for piece of mind, plus I'll be able to fit a lock washer.

If I have time I may redesign but I think I'll run these and so how they do. Worse case senerio is that they get beat the heck up and I get to make some bigger and stronger ones. Only thing I had to buy for this project was the bolts. I already had the scrap steel and consumables :drink:

[Scuba]

Guess it's time to make a skid for my shackles :P

Looks good Mike !!

[Seanz0rz]

nice job!!!

mine are a little scratched up but not bad. i try hard to avoid hitting them and the links when i can. but i might have to make some someday.

[4x4mike]

i try hard to avoid hitting them and the links when i can. but i might have to make some someday.

I'm not that good to know what the heck I'm hitting. Hence the reason for my belly skids as well.

[Crinale]

mine are a little scratched up but not bad. i try hard to avoid hitting them and the links when i can. but i might have to make some someday.


iv hit my lower links a couple times, but i dont think there is any damage... are the 2nd gen mounts stronger than the 3rd gen?

[4x4mike]

Who knows? I haven't spent mush time around the 2 gens let alone underneath. Up until now I hadn't done much with mine either.

[4x4mike]

From the other thread:

Now, sorta O-T..looking at Mike's design (which I do like) I think when we finally get mine taken care of, I might copy him, but round the outside corners with the flapper more, then think about using some rod on the inside edges to spread out the shear forces. Now whether or not to just tack them or fully tig them is the question.

My other concern with Mike's design is how will the outer plates be transferring the stresses to the support's outer surface, away from the edges and would they possibly cause the factory sheet to get dimpled and create an issue there later on.


The 4th gen and 3rd gen mounts are similar but also quite different. For one the 3rd gen mounts are larger and have an angle outward. The 4th gen ones are actually smaller but still look adequate and resonable in design.

As for mine I had to do some work on them and I haven't update this thread or the other one. I cut 75% of the metal off the side plate to allow for the outward bent in the mount. This made installation much easier and IMO the metal cut out was not needed. Most of the protection is needed in the forward facing piece and the sides/ears are for mounting and a little side protection. My inboard sides of the mount most likely won't see much damage and if they do it'll be because I slid sideways and, depending on the side, took out my gas tank or muffler also. The outer sides are out in the open and are pretty much perpendicular to the ground, this side remained on my design. With the inboard side cut out the mount isn't as boxed and has some wiggle room. If it needs more than it currently has it's likely to snap off the frame. I replaced the factory bolt with a 4.5" grade 8 bolt, drilled a drain hole in each one and called it good for now.

This shows what I did. Plus, for NorCalBorn, I rounded all the corners. I was waiting until I was totally done as I cut some corners off and created new ones.

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e13/mezamichael82/Skid%20Plates/Presentation1.jpg

The first cut wasn't enough so I took off some more (rounded those corners). With the piece gone the front plate fits flush with the factory mount. No more gap as shown before like this.

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e13/mezamichael82/Skid%20Plates/DSC07664.jpg

Now there is nothing in the way to keep the mount from the frame. I could weld it in now if I wanted to. Like mentioned before the mount is no longer boxed so there is some wiggle room. I've driven 800-900 miles since I bolted them in there and everything is sold, quiet and has not moved. Now I just need to get them out on the trails. I'll have to snap some finshed pics when I have a chance.

[Obi..]

:) Nice to know I actaully contributed something somehow and not always a PITA.

[20005spd]

these skids are a good idea for when you start wheeling hard......

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t107/20005spd/DSC00515.jpg

i never made them as you can see, but if your going to make them, make them out of thicker steel for some real beef

[4x4mike]

I made mine out of what I had. I wasn't even sure anything would turn out. I was thinking about beefing them up but I didn't want to add bulk or have something that'll mess up the factory mount.

[4x4mike]

So I was out messing around the other day on the way home from work and got a chance to use the skids. I was in some deep river rock and going a bit too slow. In an effort to not get suck in the slick baby head rocks I gave it some gas and got a bit sideways. I wasn't really sure of my surroundings but it's because I didn't think I'd have to pull a maneuver like that. Anyways my passenger side rear tire (area) drove over a rock about the size of 3 phone books stacked together. When I got to firm ground I looked underneath to see the damage. Looks like the skid did it's job. Came down on the receiver as well. All is well (no deflection, dents, etc) after a spray of black paint.

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e13/mezamichael82/Skid%20Plates/DSC07674.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e13/mezamichael82/Skid%20Plates/DSC07676.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e13/mezamichael82/Skid%20Plates/DSC07677.jpg

[Crinale]

looks like it held up well :thumbup:

[troyboy162]

price shipped to 92394?

hahah great job that worked perfect

[4x4mike]

price shipped to 92394?

hahah great job that worked perfect


Like I said before I'm not sure I'd make these to sell them. The factory mount has curves to them that would make fitment a bit difficult. If you've hit the mount before it's likely they are deformed a bit or at least have a lip to the them which means that flat steel will not fit over them very well. I had to grind mine a bit to smooth them out as one had been hit before. I've recently been to the steel store so I picked up some small pieces to add to these. Mostly a little patch for the front to thicken them up.

[troyboy162]

im just teasin, but i might have to ask the Jen & Joe fab shop to see what they can do some time. mine are rock "adjusted" but not dead yet