Too bad about the damage. While the control arms are made to follow a set arc of movement they are also mounted on rubber bushings which will allow some deviation from the normal range of motion. I don't know if you have a suspension lift or not, I'm guessing not, but having one can allow even more flex in an abnormal direction. These supports, http://community.webshots.com/photo/...96378950hMgjMo
which came with my liftkit are made to stop the front suspension from caving in the direction your's did.

I think airing down would have helped limit some of the damage you had by letting the tires absorb more of the impact. You may have lost the bead on the tire but that's probably better than bending sheet metal.

 

I think I'd file an insurance claim. Hope you had good insurance, you may want to tell them it happened on a dirt road or something.

 

That is a good idea. I hadn't thought of that.

 

Contrary to popular opinion, a SAS is not a cure all.

Same lift, same tires, IFS or SA would yield the same body damage IMO. Only if you installed the SA forward of stock could this have been avoided (possibly). If you want to avoid wrinkling fenders from tires getting stuffed, break out the sawzall.

Dragging a drum alongside your rig and trashing your paint....priceless.

 

Sorry to hear about the damage, but look at the bright side - the tires clearanced themselves.... no need to worry about a "maybe next time"...

 

The other night I went back again and found the ditch that caused the fender damage. So I drove into it (1mph-ish) in the exact spot as before and took some pics to give a better idea of what happened. It has a slight arc going up to it, hence why i never saw it coming.....but the opposite side was a deceiving vertical wall. My passenger side tire hit a rock or brick that was embedded in the dirt....drivers side hit the steepest part of the ditch. Talk about bad luck.

Cebby, The 55 gallon drum? Priceless it was...lol. I hate to even look at that part of my damage but on the "bright side" i already had plans of body work and a paint job so basically i just made it more of a priority and more money. I know a SA isn't a cure all BUT...yeah and more yeah.

mt_goat, Who sells those supports? I've never seen them before.
I recently bought Energy Suspension polyurethane control arm bushings from Downey that will be going in soon. I'm sure your right, a combination of the factory rubber bushings and not airing down my tires helped contribute to what happened.

I only have Comprehensive insurance. I don't think it would be covered.

Heres exactly where i "landed"...enjoy...






Even though it looks like it, my bumper never got touched. It was just never aligned.

 

Superlift is where I got them, they are made for trucks with a suspension lift. They help prevent the diff crossmember from bending back during an impact. Here is what Superlift says about them "Optional kicker braces span from differential crossmember-to-frame and add strength front-to-rear" http://www.superlift.com/suspension/toyota/86-PU.asp

 

Here is a thread about the braces: http://www.4x4wire.com/forums/showfl...c=1&PHPSESSID=

 

Do you have the rear contol arm brace on, if not the rear control arm mounts can flex in on a hit like that moving the rear of the wheel inward, this combined with the rubber bushing movement would give enough flex. Considering your suspension would have been in a squat there isn't much room between the wheel & the well to begin with. with everything compressed including the control arms I can see where the damage could come from.

 

mt_goat, thanks for the info! If i retain my IFS i'll definitily be looking into those braces or possibly having some fabbed.


You brought up a very good point that i didn't really think about before. I have a feeling there could be unforeseen major damage. When i apply the brakes to stop in traffic, my Runner pulls hard to the left and sometimes to the right......although it drives perfectly straight.
Could be my worn out brake rotors but if its bent metal, then i'm kinda screwed. I'll know more soon...

 

Man, you must have really been jamming to not here all that.

 

I don't know if it will help on a non-lifted truck, that's what you have right?

 

Have you checked your alignment?

 

Currently, i just have a 1" body lift.
BJ spacers and Old Man Emu T-bars+shocks will be installed soon. I'm guessing those braces wouldn't even work or be worth it?

Only while driving but i'm getting it looked at.