How "NOT" to caster correct, panhard correct your 80 series with J springs

[torfab]

A customer brought in a clean LX450 with J springs, 35" tires, lockers, rhino lined, and one nasty PO problem. Turns out the previous owner had compensated for the lift with "custom" radius arm brackets, front and rear panhard drop brackets, and sway bar drop brackets.

I took some pictures of the booty fab for your viewing pleasure

If you look really carefully at picture 2, you can see that the crossmember tube is broken off at the sleeve weld on the bracket, and then you can see the panhard bracket is cracked off the frame for who knows how long.

 

[torfab]

More pics of the front panhard rod bracket. When we removed the panhard rod, the bracket was just hanging by a small piece of steel at the frame. I hit it with my 9lb hammer, and it broke off the frame. This cruiser was a solid curb hit away from floating the front axle side to side, and potentially causing an accident.

We are in the process of removing the existing brackets that have been modified, and replacing them with brackets from another frame.

 

[Frankencruiser]

That looks safe...

 

[hawaiicruz]

Wow!
That's a candidate for scarysteering .com

 

[Pin_Head]

The drop brackets for the radius arms look decent; no worse than the MAF drop brackets. The panhard drop brackets are also a bad idea because they contribute to bump steer, besides cracking the bracket.

 

[93yotasr5]

yeah the drop brackets looked decent, but id be scared to drive that thing!!!!

 

[yoopercharged]

Thats some nice KIY work (Kill it yourself)

 

[landtank]

I personally think the radius arm drop brackets are s*** as well but as you can see others here think they are just fine.

Too many people put money before safety when lifting any truck. The unfortunate thing is that they are not only putting their lives at stake but others who might be in the way when it all goes to s***.

 

[azTony]

When you extend the brackets (lengthen them) you put more stress at the joint which causes failure. If they are going to be modified, the entire bracket needs to be reinforced properly.

 

[KevinNY]

The drop brackets for the radius arms look decent; no worse than the MAF drop brackets..

No way, the MAF brackets are way stouter than that.

 

[Pin_Head]

No way, the MAF brackets are way stouter than that.

Only if you welded them in.

 

[torfab]

I removed the panhard bracket entirely, and am replacing it with a new one from another frame. The crossmember will have to be sleeved to retain the original strength, and the new bracket welded on with some reinforcements. Here's a shot of the surface and comparing the two brackets.

 

[wasnt me]

The rust spot indicates a crack was allready there.
Good thing the owner brought it in to your shop.

 

[clownmidget]

and a quick search on here will show that weld is a weak spot - several folks have had that crack, regardless of drop brackets or not...

torfab - check the spines of the sector shaft for any twisting

 

[OGBeno]

torfab - check the spines of the sector shaft for any twisting

X2 what Mike said. This is a very good time to upgrade to the 105 sector shaft and pitman arm. Well worth the investment for any rig that sees off road action.

 

[torfab]

Sector shaft is good, keep in mind that it's not only the weld that's broken but the shaft that ties it in to the passenger frame rail. When this goes back together, I will include some steel reinforcing brackets to fix the weak spots.

 

[Walking Eagle]

Only if you welded them in.

Whatever....

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

X2 what Mike said. This is a very good time to upgrade to the 105 sector shaft and pitman arm. Well worth the investment for any rig that sees off road action.

What would a smart shopper expect to pay for 105 sector shaft and pitman arm?

 

[LINUS]

I know the owner of that truck & am glad to see it at your shop - he'd offered it to me in its' current shape but I'm saving money for a hefty gun purchase, otherwise it would have been in my shop & getting all the lift work done correctly to make it my "dirt only" 80 & keeping my black one as a street/daily driver.

Rick's right - the way some people put cash over the quality & safety of how they lift their 80's just gets rediculous. And seeing the radius arm "correction" in person, I'd be torch/grinding that out too 7 going another route.

In the owner's defense, he bought it like that & the work wqas done by a mystery person/ P.O. & the current owner got it off fleabay. It's not his handiwork or fault, and knowing him it's amazing it held as long as it did since he wheels that thing & knows far more than I about sound practices when it comes to smooth offroading.

 

[Riad]

This should go to FAQ