4Runner Crossmember (Cut it off? Relocate? Need it?)

[Jeremy9A]

After getting hung up my fuel tank over rocks and such, I finally removed my tank. It was smashed in beyond recognition holding only 10 gallons of gas. I installed the F150 tank behind the axle, and out of hams way for the most part.

So I have this low hanging crossmember sitting there where the front of the tank was mounted to. I am wondering if people have been removing this crossmember and getting along just fine? Or building a new one that doesn't hang below the frame? The exhaust is in the worst spot for attaching a crossmember to the inside of the frame without hanging below.

I see no sense in leaving the crossmember the way it is. It hangs just as low as the original tank, and I have already bent the crossmember while it was in my way. I wouldn't gain much by leaving it there.

Here are some pics of the hunk of metal in question. I don't think its is structural....

 

[The Jade Bean]

I don't have anything to back this up, but I'm gonna say you need it. That said maybe fab up a new one with better clearance. Not sure what to do about the exhaust...maybe run it through the new fabbed up crossmember?

 

[Jeremy9A]

It might be a little bit structural. But there's still the trans member, the one above the axle, and the tube looking one- So I removed it today. I'll think up a new design.

 

[The Jade Bean]

It might be a little bit structural. But there's still the trans member, the one above the axle, and the tube looking one- So I removed it today. I'll think up a new design.

Cool...post up pics of the cut out and then more after the new fabbed one.

 

[Jeremy9A]

I'll get some pics in the near future. I'm beefing up the rear lower control arms at the moment too. I welded some 1/4" angle iron to them from end to end.

I'm curious if anyone has relocated the mounts for the lower links, while leaving the uppers alone. With the gas tank relocated to the rear, I think the lower link mounts (rock anchors) are the next thing to get moved out of the way. If I can make some longer ones that mount to the inside of the frame, that would really help out the goal of making the belly a little more flat.

 

[Jeremy9A]

I finished up on the second lower control arm tonight. I'm hoping to not bend one of these arms again now. Last time it happened, it was a s***ty inconvenience in a bad spot. It was bent so bad that my wheel was rubbing the front of the opening.

Here are a few pictures of the slightly improved arms. It's not the best solution, but better than what I had for very little money.

 

[Jeremy9A]

Here is the left side installed

 

[The Jade Bean]

That's cool...I didn't know you could weld reinforcements on there, I would have thought it would warp it. Do you expect any issues from this?

 

[Jeremy9A]

Issues from warping? No... They are pretty unbent right now, as good as I could get them.

 

[The Jade Bean]

Issues from warping? No... They are pretty unbent right now, as good as I could get them.

I mean the heat from welding...will that not cause the control arms to bend under the heat while welding?

 

[Jeremy9A]

I didn't check against any sort of straight edge before or after. I imagine it is entirely possible for some warping if you didn't do a little welding at a time from opposite sides, almost like a torque sequence. I have never studied that deep into metals, but I'm sure some one will chime in soon enough.

Mine were not straight to begin with, and still aren't. I made a few small passes in different locations when I welded on them, just for the hell of it.

But they should hold up better for sure, and that is my main goal.

 

[The Jade Bean]

Cool. Just curious cause I thought I could do that instead of buying beefier one from someone else. I'll see, it's not the highest on my priority list.

You gonna fab-up a new cross member?

 

[Jeremy9A]

I have a few ideas for a new crossmember. I'll probably start with something on saturday if I don't have anything else going on.

 

[The Jade Bean]

Just talked with a friend who does fab work and he says it won't cause bending/warping.

 

[Brake Weight]

The weaker of the two pieces would be the one to bend. As long as you tack the corners first it should be good.

 

[97kurt]

The tacoma does not even have that rear xmember. But I have a feeling the 4runner needs the extra rigidity. The only advantage of keeping it is that the budbuilt belly pan mounts to it.

Otherwise I'd chop it off, replace it with some 1.5x1.5 square tube and make it flush with the frame. In fact thats what I am probably gonna do in the next few weeks.