Sooooo....it looks like I hammered out my right rear mount on my 90 4runner. The mounting 'sandwich' on the top of the shock punched through the bracket, taking the bowl shaped washer and a bit of the bracket lip along with it. I replaced the shocks and rear springs not long go, but the prior spings were in piss poor shape, with spring spacers and the works...clearly well past the expiration date. I'm guessing it took enough of a beating from bottoming out before I got to it. Now I gotta fix this ˟˟˟˟. The shock seems ...fine? with the exception of the washers and bushing, which got properly mangled rattling around in that jagged hole. I'm hoping I can get some replacement washers and bushings from OME and salvage the shock.

Now the question: Does this look in-tact enough to salvage by welding a plate or fatty washer in place? Toyota does sell a replacement assembly (PN# 51301-35020) but my guess is that the 200 bucks that'll cost me is nothing compared to the pain of removing and re-welding the bracket. What's the diagnosis?

 

I have a 2000 4 Runner that has done the same thing. Pondering ideas for the repairs needed and which way to go.

 

Well, I asked around and found a good local body shop to do the weld for 200 bucks. Sounds like a good alternative to me to welding upside down in a rain of sparks and arcing my gastank. The break on mine was very clean, so it looks like the guys will be able to weld the washer right back to the frame. It almost looks as though the weld itself was weak...maybe this is by design so that it breaks instead of bending the frame? Anyway, I'll report back with the results. Adding a few more pics for posterity in case anyone else runs into this issue.

 

If it were me, I'd reinforce the bottom with another bigger washer as well. After over a decade of maintaining a large fleet of heavy equipment, I've learned that there's no such thing as overbuilt.

 

hopefully they grind out that crack and weld it together too.
seems like some 3/8 plate correctly welded should do it right

by the time you buy a decent 120v welder and the safety stuff you need you would be looking at $500'ish plus learning to weld on something like a suspension component isn't the best idea IMO.