Weekend Brake & Body Carnage!

[Skillet]

Well, my weekend up at Red Mountain saw a little more damage than I would have liked.

Trail seemed much rougher and more challenging than my last three times up there and there were a couple of spots that I was tearing seat fabric...if you get my drift.

Pic one shows how I broke the metal brake line on the PS axle.
Has anyone ever done this, as I am not quite sure how it happened?
Looks like maybe the shock was hitting the mount and it just tore it out. Of course I have a complete set of extra flex lines on board but nothing like that.

This presented a major problem as, like an idiot, I left my brake fluid at home after topping off, and the system was bleeding badly.

Well, we got the bleeding down to a small drip with a kink in the line and a piece of fuel line clamped down tight. Some guys on 4 wheelers said that, in a pinch, you can put water in the system instead of brake fluid but I really did not want to go that route as water can boil.

We camped over night and started to limp out the next day. Met some other gents on the trail who gave me some extra brake fluid for back up.

Then I smashed the only 2" of vulnerable metal just in front of my DS door. That would be the second and third pics.

Not happy about that.

All in all, the trip was fun but I need a little more clearance if that trail is to be attempted again.

Just a side note, vehicle pulls VERY hard with only one front brake working so if this happens to anyone else, take er' easy on the way home.

Anyone know the technical lingo for that little steel brake line before I call Dan?

 

[Doc]

I think it might be time to remove that flare.

I hate body damage.

 

[Clutchee]

Same line same place broken.........wife broke it in Texas.

Sway bar broke loose & cut it in half.

 

[Skillet]

Just ordered the part from Dan.

Apparently he has NEVER sold one before and there was only 1 available, and it is not even in the country yet.

Shows you how often that happens.

Leave it up to me to break the one thing that never breaks.

Here are a couple of pics from the trail itself...

 

[-Spike-]

Nice trail!

-Spike

 

[Cruiserdrew]

One of our guys broke that exact line at Rubithon last week. I'll bet your sway bar broke off the mount. When it does, It takes out that line. Look at the sway bar mount on the axle very carefully.

You can just make a new line-bad news there are not any available. We made a new line on the trail with a long piece of double male premade brake tube.

Sounds like you had fun!

 

[alvarorb]

That was me.
The right axle bracket of the front sway bar ripped off and as it did it took the brake line with it.
I need to order parts from CDAN.

Regards

Alvaro

 

[SOCALFJ]

Damn Jeb that sucks so bad. You ran that trail solo? without any other rigs?

 

[Skillet]

Nice trail!

-Spike

It is a great trail. But if your clearance is not just so, it is a pumpkin' smasher for sure.

Maintained by short wheel-base jeep club out of Fresno. My '40 did great on it the last couple of times.

One of our guys broke that exact line at Rubithon last week. I'll bet your sway bar broke off the mount. When it does, It takes out that line. Look at the sway bar mount on the axle very carefully.

You can just make a new line-bad news there are not any available. We made a new line on the trail with a long piece of double male premade brake tube.

Sounds like you had fun!

I discussed with Dan how it would be worth my while to make a line for it, if for no other reason than to have a back up in the spare box since the factory part is so hard to get.

I will check that swaybar, thanks.


And yes...we had a great time despite that breakage...we celebrated making it to Coyote Lake at 9100' with a cold beer and some ribs!

It is a beautiful area.

 

[GXO]

that clinches it, the front sway comes off tomorrow

 

[Doc]

Here are a couple of pics from the trail itself...

That's a trail?

Here in Iowa our trails actually have two dirt lines on them denoting the previously traveled 'trail'.

That looks like you're just driving over random rocks.

 

[Skillet]

That was me.
The right axle bracket of the front sway bar ripped off and as it did it took the brake line with it.
I need to order parts from CDAN.

Regards

Alvaro

Alvaro,

Get your order in now if you want it within a month or so.
Sounds like you have one already in place though whereas mine is still crimped and plugged.

Damn Jeb that sucks so bad. You ran that trail solo? without any other rigs?

Yes, I did run it solo. Probably not the smartest move.

that clinches it, the front sway comes off tomorrow

I was thinking the same thing. Stupid swaybar.

 

[-Spike-]

That's a trail?

Here in Iowa our trails actually have two dirt lines on them denoting the previously traveled 'trail'.

That looks like you're just driving over random rocks.

That's a trail. That's 'rock crawling'. Usually the trail is a creek or river bed, and it's fairly obvious if you can see more of the terrain.
And yes, the trails are recognized as such by the authorities.

-Spike

 

[Skillet]

That's a trail?

Here in Iowa our trails actually have two dirt lines on them denoting the previously traveled 'trail'.

That looks like you're just driving over random rocks.

Yea, and it is freshly "maintained".

Here are some pics of the nicer spots...

 

[OGBeno]

Now's a good time to get rid of those pesky sway bars so this doesn't happen again.

Secondly, great trail!

Thirdly, this is a good opportunity to get rid of the pesky flares too.....



ps: what kind of delicious beer are you pounding?

 

[Skillet]

Now's a good time to get rid of those pesky sway bars so this doesn't happen again.

Secondly, great trail!

Thirdly, this is a good opportunity to get rid of the pesky flares too.....



ps: what kind of delicious beer are you pounding?

1. Agreed
2. Agreed
3. Agreed
4. Lagunitas / Special Edition IPA (it was quite delicious)

 

[Atticus]

1. Agreed
2. Agreed
3. Agreed
4. Lagunitas / Special Edition IPA (it was quite delicious)

Slow down. You should just replace the flare. Your rig looks good, and if the Cruiser gods wanted you to start pulling them, you would have crushed at least two of them.

Don't overreact.

 

[Tool Pusher]

That trail looks alot like the Rubicon.
Brake fittings are probably 10mm. Can get premade lengths at any auto parts store. They are easy to bend, just be careful of kinking.

David Sword

 

[Skillet]

Slow down. You should just replace the flare. Your rig looks good, and if the Cruiser gods wanted you to start pulling them, you would have crushed at least two of them.

Don't overreact.

Actually, two ideas came to mind...

Tear them off and fill the holes or find a replacement flare and paint them all black.

I had a white Tacoma that had black flares and I thought it looked pretty good. Plus it would be easier to touch up when I get the occasional scrape. Little rattle can action, and I am all good.

Now, I am off to consult the Cruiser gods.

 

[Atticus]

Actually, two ideas came to mind...

Tear them off and fill the holes or find a replacement flare and paint them all black.

I had a white Tacoma that had black flares and I thought it looked pretty good. Plus it would be easier to touch up when I get the occasional scrape. Little rattle can action, and I am all good.

Now, I am off to consult the Cruiser gods.

I like the black, or dark gray.

Now you're cooking with gas.