[CADavebert]

So, I bought some All-Pro rear lower arms (links, control arms, etc., they seem to have lot's of names). I also got the lower rear shock skids, and the skids for the rear lower control arm thingie's. Terry got the package out to me quickly so I could get it all on before leaving for Ouray.

Everything was set for me to work on the FJ all day for the 4th of July. I replaced the parts on the passenger side first. After figuring our what parts to lift, and where, so I could get it all to line up, the only trouble I had on this side was that I forgot to get thread lock first. Ran out with my wife's car before tightening up.

Moving on to the drivers side, I figured it would take about 5 minutes, now that I had all the right tools, parts, and know-how. That was, until I saw this...

It appears that at one of the numerous trails I've been on, there was a nice rock that came up and tried to take out my drivers side rear lower arm, thing. It put some nice bends in the metal, and also went over and took some gouges out of the aluminum ASFIR gas tank skid. I can only imagine what would have happened to the original stock plastic 'skid'.

Based on the fact it hit the gas tank skids (and when I installed them), I'm pretty sure this happened on Gold Mine Trail up at Big Bear during the Trail Team event.

So, using what tools I had (and not any flames) I bent and banged on the bracket enough to be able to fit the new skid over top of it. There was one part that bent out making this difficult. Once I got it close, I just used the jack to lift/push it up into place.

This is a picture of the other side, but they both look the same now.

 

[Hanselhoff]

very nice dave, i just drank beer abd bbq'ued

 

[Fjamming]

Looks good Dave. I need to get skids for my LCAs and shocks too.

 

[GTKrockeTT]

dave, i banged the lower link skids at the same spot at gold mountain...i was very happy to have them and the rear shock guards during the TT event.

 

[Sanderhawk]

Dave,

I just did gold mountain yesterday myself. That is one rough trail. Matter of fact I just did a different thread asking where I cound get me some protection for the same things you just did. I guess you just answered my question. Mine is lifted and I have OEM rock rails. I beat the death out of everything under my truck except the rock rails. So was all your stuff bolt on or weld on? I definetly need to do this before going back to that trail.

 

[CADavebert]

Everything I have right now is bolt on. The control arms and skids were fairly simple to install. Just tools and a jack. If not for the damage, it would have been super simple.

For my skids, I did have to make some modification to pair up between the front Demello skid and the rear ASFIR aluminum's. It was a fairly simple cut and drill with power tools.

The differential skid is the tricky one. IMO the weld on one would be best, but that's just my opinion. Watching extreme 4X4, they usually just weld metal on to the bottom. Seems to work very well. Might be a hassle due to a need to drain the oils, I guess.