DIY bump stop spacers.
Cost: $15
Time: 1hr
Difficulty: Easy
Required Tools: 3/8 drill bit, punch, hammer, safely glasses, 12mm socket, drill press or drill, WD40.
BEFORE:
AFTER:
After looking around for bump stop spacer and seeing most are selling at $40-$50+ I decided to make my own rear bump stop spacer on my 97 LX450. Here is my DIY project. It took me about an hour to make and install the spacers.
STEP 1: Buy 2"x2" aluminum square stock at your local metal supply shop. The nice thing about this is you have a selection of sizes of solid square stock to easily choose the size of spacer you need. I bought 2"x2" solid stock at 14" length. The supplier even cut them into two 7" lengths for free, which made this project even easier.
STEP 2: Remove your bump stops and place on spacers for sizing spacing for holes to be drilled. Use a punch to make holes for drilling.
STEP 3: Drill holes. I used a 3/8 drill bit. You can use a larger drill to compensate if your holes are not perfectly spaced apart or if you don't have an old drill press to get the holes perfectly straight.
Note: Drilling aluminum is easy but creates lots of shavings. Like may of you, my garage is used by the whole family and I didn't want sharp aluminum shavings all over. I held the shop vac near the drill to suck up the shavings while I was drilling. It worked pretty well and caught 70% of the mess.
STEP 4:
Check fit of spacers and brackets using 2" longer bolts with same thread as factory bolts. I purchased longer bolts at a local hardware distributer for a few dollars.
STEP 5:
Attach frame. You could also spray paint the spacer before attaching, if thats your preference. A little WD40 also helps if your threads are dirty or have any rust.
STEP 6: Go wheeling, since you just saved $30+ dollars making your own spacers that are pretty much the same as ones sold online minus a company engraved logo.
Happy Trails ~Kyle
Cost: $15
Time: 1hr
Difficulty: Easy
Required Tools: 3/8 drill bit, punch, hammer, safely glasses, 12mm socket, drill press or drill, WD40.
BEFORE:
AFTER:
After looking around for bump stop spacer and seeing most are selling at $40-$50+ I decided to make my own rear bump stop spacer on my 97 LX450. Here is my DIY project. It took me about an hour to make and install the spacers.
STEP 1: Buy 2"x2" aluminum square stock at your local metal supply shop. The nice thing about this is you have a selection of sizes of solid square stock to easily choose the size of spacer you need. I bought 2"x2" solid stock at 14" length. The supplier even cut them into two 7" lengths for free, which made this project even easier.
STEP 2: Remove your bump stops and place on spacers for sizing spacing for holes to be drilled. Use a punch to make holes for drilling.
STEP 3: Drill holes. I used a 3/8 drill bit. You can use a larger drill to compensate if your holes are not perfectly spaced apart or if you don't have an old drill press to get the holes perfectly straight.
Note: Drilling aluminum is easy but creates lots of shavings. Like may of you, my garage is used by the whole family and I didn't want sharp aluminum shavings all over. I held the shop vac near the drill to suck up the shavings while I was drilling. It worked pretty well and caught 70% of the mess.
STEP 4:
Check fit of spacers and brackets using 2" longer bolts with same thread as factory bolts. I purchased longer bolts at a local hardware distributer for a few dollars.
STEP 5:
Attach frame. You could also spray paint the spacer before attaching, if thats your preference. A little WD40 also helps if your threads are dirty or have any rust.
STEP 6: Go wheeling, since you just saved $30+ dollars making your own spacers that are pretty much the same as ones sold online minus a company engraved logo.
Happy Trails ~Kyle
