So if you don't know, there is a new Toyota specialist in the Atlanta area (Scottdale, in NW DeKalb area). I've been meaning to go and check out their shop for a while and had an opportunity to meet Mike, Brian and Daniel a few weekends ago while we were out running errands in the neighborhood.
I've been brainstorming on how to bridge the gap between my All-Pro and Budbuilt skids and take care of the fact that many of those stock weld-nuts holding the skid bolts are broken free from the frame. They stopped what they were doing (some nice restoration work on a FJ40 and a FJ60) to crawl under my truck with a flashlight and check it out. So I talked it over with them briefly and they said schedule a time to come by and we could discuss it further and sketch out some ideas.
Fast forward to last week and I notice I've got this serious "CLUNK" in my rear axle. I posted about it in another thread, but it didn't garner much attention. See post #50: POLL: Have you had your LCA nut/bolt loosen up? - Page 5 - Toyota FJ Cruiser Forum
I climbed under and see that the bolt seems to be sliding back in forth in the rear control arm bracket. Hmmmph! I am supposed to go wheeling this coming weekend and now I'm not sure if things are safe for even daily driving.
So I decided to send Daniel an email with the picture and see what he thinks. He replies that same night and says to come on by after work the next day (last night) and they'd be happy to take care of me before the trip. So they stay late and we drop the rear control arms to have look. And sure enough, the bolt has reamed out the hole in the bottom bracket. We discuss the options and decide the most solid solution would be to reinforce the bracket hole with some grade 8 washers. Brian grabs his MIG welder and centers the washer on the outer side then lines the bolt up inside the bracket and welds the flange nut on the inside of the bracket. They go ahead and do both sides of the axle just to prevent it from happening on the passenger side too. PERFECT! No clunking and it feels like it should when I hit the gas, solid.
Oblong hole with about 1/4" of slop
washer actually left impression in the bracket
New Grade 8 washer welded in place
Stock flange nut welded in place
These guys did a great job and were very quick too (about 30 minutes). You really need to look these guys up and give them some business because they've been wheeling and working in the 4 x 4 community for a long time (for someone else up til now) and now they are running their own shop. These guys know Toyotas inside and out and are familiar with the FJ's drive train and suspension. Don't let their name fool you, they can do your 25K or 35K interval maintenance too. These guys are far more knowledgeable than the dealership dudes I've run across (The last time I was at the dealership, they actually screwed up an oil change and I lost about a quart of oil by the time I got home.)
Atlanta Custom Creations 404-508-4800 Atlanta Custom Creations :: Land Cruiser & Toyota Trucks/SUVs :: Maintenance, Expedition Builds, Restorations
I'll be going back in a couple weeks to finish off my original project, to reinforce my skid situation.
I've been brainstorming on how to bridge the gap between my All-Pro and Budbuilt skids and take care of the fact that many of those stock weld-nuts holding the skid bolts are broken free from the frame. They stopped what they were doing (some nice restoration work on a FJ40 and a FJ60) to crawl under my truck with a flashlight and check it out. So I talked it over with them briefly and they said schedule a time to come by and we could discuss it further and sketch out some ideas.
Fast forward to last week and I notice I've got this serious "CLUNK" in my rear axle. I posted about it in another thread, but it didn't garner much attention. See post #50: POLL: Have you had your LCA nut/bolt loosen up? - Page 5 - Toyota FJ Cruiser Forum
I climbed under and see that the bolt seems to be sliding back in forth in the rear control arm bracket. Hmmmph! I am supposed to go wheeling this coming weekend and now I'm not sure if things are safe for even daily driving.
So I decided to send Daniel an email with the picture and see what he thinks. He replies that same night and says to come on by after work the next day (last night) and they'd be happy to take care of me before the trip. So they stay late and we drop the rear control arms to have look. And sure enough, the bolt has reamed out the hole in the bottom bracket. We discuss the options and decide the most solid solution would be to reinforce the bracket hole with some grade 8 washers. Brian grabs his MIG welder and centers the washer on the outer side then lines the bolt up inside the bracket and welds the flange nut on the inside of the bracket. They go ahead and do both sides of the axle just to prevent it from happening on the passenger side too. PERFECT! No clunking and it feels like it should when I hit the gas, solid.
Oblong hole with about 1/4" of slop
washer actually left impression in the bracket
New Grade 8 washer welded in place
Stock flange nut welded in place
These guys did a great job and were very quick too (about 30 minutes). You really need to look these guys up and give them some business because they've been wheeling and working in the 4 x 4 community for a long time (for someone else up til now) and now they are running their own shop. These guys know Toyotas inside and out and are familiar with the FJ's drive train and suspension. Don't let their name fool you, they can do your 25K or 35K interval maintenance too. These guys are far more knowledgeable than the dealership dudes I've run across (The last time I was at the dealership, they actually screwed up an oil change and I lost about a quart of oil by the time I got home.)
Atlanta Custom Creations 404-508-4800 Atlanta Custom Creations :: Land Cruiser & Toyota Trucks/SUVs :: Maintenance, Expedition Builds, Restorations
I'll be going back in a couple weeks to finish off my original project, to reinforce my skid situation.
