I just had a my new set of trail gears sliders installed yesterday at a local off road shop. So I'm home last night, and I noticed when I hit any large bumps or potholes in the road there is a large clunk coming from the baseboards, right above the sliders. So I put it up on a lift today, and checked everything underneath the truck, suspension, driveline, transmission mounts, lug nuts etc.....everything was nice and snug. Only think I could up with was how the sliders were mounted. The legs touch the pinch weld....... Should there be a gap between the two? Would vibrations in the frame be more pronounced because the sliders are touching the body?

 

I just got mine welded on Friday and I noticed the same thing. They bump the body. Justin and I are thinking about taking a sawsall and notching the bottom of the rocker panel. I've seen it done on another 4runner...it's not too bad.

 

Do you have a loud a$$ thump too? I was thinking about doing the same thing with the rocker panel.

 

i had the same thing, I just slit some 1/4" vacuum tubing lengthwise and put it on the pinch weld, presto no more noise

 

Check out the install directions on WAbFab's site. http://www.wabfab.org/technical/rocksliderinstall.htm

 

Guapo: Yeah, I have the same noise. When I started driving home...I was like what the heck is that?! It scared the crap outta me. When I got home I started inspecting...sure enough they were touching.

Eric: That is a great idea! I hadn't thought of that.

 

Personally, I would have them taken off and put on correctly.

 

Yeah, problem with that is mine are welded on. Not sure it's too good to keep welding on the frame. Anyone hear differently? Guapo, how bout you? Yours welded or bolted on?

 

True, That sucks because the reason you put those on is to not damage the body. If there hitting, then that kind of defeats the purpose.

 

mine did it too when i first had my sliders installed... it goes away after a couple months, when the sliders bend the pinch weld out of the way.

 

I just welded trail gear sliders on my 96 and left a 1/4" gap between the rocker and the mounting tubes... No hitting...

 

That works, too!

 

Mine are welded on, I might just leave them, cuz I'm doing a 2" body lift in the next month or so.

 

I feel better now, knowing thats its the definately the sliders hitting and not something else!

 

Guapo: Post up some pics with your new sliders! I'll get some of mine...

 

Will do....I just finished painting them about an hour ago. I also just finished installing my cb w/ pa system....just waiting on my firestik II the arrive in the mail.

The guys at the off road shop loved the trail gear slider kit, they said it was one of the best kits they've seen.

 

I like your rig JnJ, been looking for a first gen for a few months, just for the roll bar though, so I can mod it to fit mine

 

The guys who welded mine on said the same thing about the quality of these sliders. Their words..."these things aren't going anywhere!"

Thanks for the compliments on my truck. I like the roll bar, too. Contact malinjj he's parting out a 1st gen. I don't know if he has sold the roll bar yet. He's located on the east coast as well, NJ to be exact.

Here are some pics...I still need to paint the sliders, I'll probably do it tonight after the wind dies down.





A couple cool freeway shots...

 

I recommend keeping about 1/2" gap between the sliders and the pinch weld under the body to allow for body/frame flex:
- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/ForSale/....shtml#Squeaks

And putting a length fo rubber tubing along the pinch weld seam will hep silence the clunking or another option is to install a set of 1/2" tall body lift spacers. Usually can be done with the stock hardware:
- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/ForSale/...Kit.shtml#FAQ1

Have made quite a few 1/2" lifts for just this reason.

 

Two things:

1- the fuel line trick really does work. I mounted my 4Crawler sliders SNUG up to the fuel line covered pinch weld, and I don't have any squeaks or noises.

2 - you need the inner rail of the sliders under the pinch weld. That way, when it DOES flex (and it will) it hits the pinch weld uniformly and distributes the load.