Its been a while since I've done much posting on any forums, the ones I use to frequent have sort of gone downhill. I do a lot of reading here, but not much posting.
Recently I've bent my idler arm since I went up in tire size but couldnt find a manufacture that makes a brace anymore. I recently have gotten access to a waterjet so decided to make one. I just had new bronze bushings machined for my new idler arm, so I wanted to protect them and my new arm.
I had my bent idler arm laying around so designed off of that and compensated for the amount it was bent.
Made a cardboard template to make sure it fits as desired
I cut that out out of 1/4" steel and then realized my new idler arm has a grease nipple right in the middle. I couldnt just make a hole because it actually pivots around the nipple, and I wanted to make the slit big enough to be able to grease without removing the brace. I also didnt like the shape of the small bracket with the two holes. I changed its shape so that when bent, it would sit flat even though the arm has a 8 degree slope. (I unfortunately dont have any pictures of the new flat layout, its nothing spectacular.)
So, cut out the second version
Then welded it up
Put some bedliner spray on it, and she fit like a glove.
Took her out that day!
... and a few more, because who doesnt like pictures of toyotas.
Recently I've bent my idler arm since I went up in tire size but couldnt find a manufacture that makes a brace anymore. I recently have gotten access to a waterjet so decided to make one. I just had new bronze bushings machined for my new idler arm, so I wanted to protect them and my new arm.
I had my bent idler arm laying around so designed off of that and compensated for the amount it was bent.
Made a cardboard template to make sure it fits as desired
I cut that out out of 1/4" steel and then realized my new idler arm has a grease nipple right in the middle. I couldnt just make a hole because it actually pivots around the nipple, and I wanted to make the slit big enough to be able to grease without removing the brace. I also didnt like the shape of the small bracket with the two holes. I changed its shape so that when bent, it would sit flat even though the arm has a 8 degree slope. (I unfortunately dont have any pictures of the new flat layout, its nothing spectacular.)
So, cut out the second version
Then welded it up
Put some bedliner spray on it, and she fit like a glove.
Took her out that day!
... and a few more, because who doesnt like pictures of toyotas.