Bent rear lower shock mount (4 Viewers)

[Hiluxforever]

My lower shkck mount is bent and I was unable to mount a new shock.

Not sure what I am going to do, yet. I futzed with it for about 90 minutes.

 

[Hiluxforever]

With KDSS over ridden its unsafe to drive. But with KDSS engaged it can be gently driven without too many issues. So I can limp it around until I can get a new mount welded on.

 

[Hiluxforever]

I bought a logging chain and am going to try a trick with it and a jack to try to bend it back.

 

[Pennwestmechanic]

Just becareful!

 

[Hiluxforever]

I didn't like how it was flexing the jack so I stopped messing with it.

 

[Rednexus]

Is just the post bent? It looks fairly straight. Or is the whole mount bent?

Assuming the mount itself is not bent, it can be really hard to install the shock with the rig on the ground. The angle of the lower shock mount does not mesh very well with installing/removing the shock. It's a lot easier if the rig is up in the air with the suspension at full droop and the wheel is removed. If the shock is installed loosely from the top mount, you should be able to get it on the lower mount by lubricating the post and then whacking the shock on the metal portion of the lower bushing with a big hammer (like a dead blow hammer). Once it starts going, it should slight right on.

If the whole mount is bent....you might need to have your old mount cut off and a mount from a junkyard axle welded on. Otherwise, it would need to be heated with a torch and bent back into shape.

 

[Hiluxforever]

Is just the post bent? It looks fairly straight. Or is the whole mount bent?

Assuming the mount itself is not bent, it can be really hard to install the shock with the rig on the ground. The angle of the lower shock mount does not mesh very well with installing/removing the shock. It's a lot easier if the rig is up in the air with the suspension at full droop and the wheel is removed. If the shock is installed loosely from the top mount, you should be able to get it on the lower mount by lubricating the post and then whacking the shock on the metal portion of the lower bushing with a big hammer (like a dead blow hammer). Once it starts going, it should slight right on.

If the whole mount is bent....you might need to have your old mount cut off and a mount from a junkyard axle welded on. Otherwise, it would need to be heated with a torch and bent back into shape.

The mount is crumpled and twisted up about 45 degrees. Enough that the axle housing itself prevent installation of a shock on the lower mount. I came down so hard it was spine jarring so that must have been when that happened.

It will need to be cut off and a new mount welded on. There are signs that the re-enforcement welds are cracked.

 

[Hiluxforever]

I am an engineer, self made, not college educated. So had to work twice as hard to get there.

 

[Rednexus]

The mount is crumpled and twisted up about 45 degrees. Enough that the axle housing itself prevent installation of a shock on the lower mount. I came down so hard it was spine jarring so that must have been when that happened.

It will need to be cut off and a new mount welded on. There are signs that the re-enforcement welds are cracked.

Got it.

I still have my old 8" housing laying around, but it's destined for the scrap yard. I'd be happy to slice off DS end of the axle tube (with the shock mount and panhard bar mount intact and attached) and send it your way for the cost of shipping and a few extra bucks. I am 99% sure it is exactly the same as the 8.2 housing since the 8.2 and all accessories (shocks, panhard bar, brake line brackets, etc.) bolted right over from my old 8" housing.

 

[Hiluxforever]

Thanks for the offer.

I am going to talk with a couple local fabricators about doing something to beef the mount up to prevent it from happening again.

I was only going 2 or 3 mph when it happened. I slipped off a rock and dropped maybe a foot onto the shock mount.

I had hoped it was a place where my skids were bent but this damage is kore in line with what I felt.

I chalk it up to the price of playing. I

 

[Rednexus]

eimkeith makes a kit as well:

2003-2024 4th/5th Gen 4Runner Lower Shock Mount Reinforcement (LSR)

Protect your 03-24 4th/5th Gen 4Runner with Lower Shock Mount Reinforcements. Weld-on 3/16” plates prevent bending and strengthen factory mounts for off-road durability!

eimkeith.com

I have the kit sitting on my workbench and have not yet gotten around to installing it. Probably next year when I add other skids to the rig.

 

[HomersCanyonero]

eimkeith makes a kit as well:

2003-2024 4th/5th Gen 4Runner Lower Shock Mount Reinforcement (LSR)

Protect your 03-24 4th/5th Gen 4Runner with Lower Shock Mount Reinforcements. Weld-on 3/16” plates prevent bending and strengthen factory mounts for off-road durability!

eimkeith.com

I have the kit sitting on my workbench and have not yet gotten around to installing it. Probably next year when I add other skids tot eh rigs.

This is another option although it has a different purpose

Shock Skids (non-King Shock) |

 

[r2m]

I'm just spit wading here, but from what I can see in your photos, is it possible to get a length of steel tubing, with the inside diameter as close as possible as the outside diameter of the shocks shaft? You should than have the leverage to bend it back in place, unless you're needing to bend it upward, into the frame, hence you wouldn't have much room to leverage.

 

[Rednexus]

I'm just spit wading here, but from what I can see in your photos, is it possible to get a length of steel tubing, with the inside diameter as close as possible as the outside diameter of the shocks shaft? You should than have the leverage to bend it back in place, unless you're needing to bend it upward, into the frame, hence you wouldn't have much room to leverage.

Looks like it has a pretty big crease in it. It would not be a bad job to weld one on. Care would need to be taken to cut them in the same place, bevel the edges, and then put a gusset across the weld in a few locations to reinforce it (as it can't be welded from the inside).

 

[Hiluxforever]

I used all jack and chain and put about 5-6k lbs of force on it and it just smiles at me. No way to get anything more than about 2 feet on it.

I'm just spit wading here, but from what I can see in your photos, is it possible to get a length of steel tubing, with the inside diameter as close as possible as the outside diameter of the shocks shaft? You should than have the leverage to bend it back in place, unless you're needing to bend it upward, into the frame, hence you wouldn't have much room to leverage.

 

[Hiluxforever]

Have a quote from one shop for HD lower shock mounts waiting for the second estimate.

 

[Hiluxforever]

Doing lower profile HD shock mounts. Johns4x4 in Loveland/Johnstown is doing the work. Hoping this is a one and done.