I had a shop tell me that from where the front of the shackles are welded that the frame is not thick enough to support the weight up front when off roading and flexing. You know how it goes from 4 inches to about 2 inches towards the front? That was his concern. Is there anything I should worry about?

 

Sorry for some reason I can't post pics. This was a driveline shop and was just his "opinion". His concern was that all the weight is up front on the front shackles and that the Toyota frame goes from 4 inches down to 2 inches and it's a weak point. I've never personally heard this but just wanted to know what others think. This is on a 1990 4runner with a SAS Trail Gear kit.

 

Ok, you're meaning the shackle tubes at the rear of the front leaf springs? If so, quite a few people have been just fine using trail gear's shackle tubes there for years.

 

No, sorry i got to post a pic, the very front shackles the furthest in the front , under the radiator. The frame goes from 4 inches in diameter (boxed) then slims down to about 2 inches when you get past about where the top of the shock mounts are located. The guy just kinda got me worried saying that most of the weight rides on the front shackles and that I should have a full 4 inch frame all the way forward. Like I said I've never heard or saw any issues with this being a "weak point" and I'm a newbie at this, I just wanted to see if this is a real concern or not. Thanks

 

I guess what the guy was saying is it goes from this...http://s1281.photobucket.com/albums/...ps70756b01.jpg

 

To this, in sizehttp://s1281.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3f4bbe04.jpg

 

He was a jeep guy anyway, maybe he doesn't know what he's talking about

 

If it breaks then you can upgrade.

If this is a major problem I am sure we all would be hearing about it on a daily basis!!

Shame on you listening to one from the Dark Side!!

All I can say is I have never seen it or had to repair any

 

They make frame supports that usually come in the SAS kits. It's a weld on frame strengthening plate for both sides.
Right where you are talking about

The dude probably does drive a jeep. Haha

 

Ask him to I wheeling and he will be TRADIG his jeep for a Yota after the first time you make it through something his weak jeep gets stuck in. Haha

 

That's what I figured after he mention the word "jeep" talking about kits he makes for them. He did make my son a nice front drive shaft. Going to install It today hopefully.http://s1281.photobucket.com/albums/...c3c4d6ca-1.jpg

 

post your pics this way

[IMG][/IMG]

Works mo betterer...

 

Ok, I've heard of a few guys that have had some frame cracking right behind the hanger area(hanger, not shackle. That's why I asked which end you were talking about). Search for "frame cracking by steering box" or something like that. I believe some people's fix is welding a reinforcement plate on the outside of the frame, but most people that have the cracking really hammer on their rig quite hard.