FOOK YOU? NO, FOOK ME!

Has anyone ever thought of or tried to build an x-runner like "x-brace" for the back end of a 4x4 to reduce the "hopping" that they do when the tires are slipping?

I mean like this;
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h103/Grumpy_G/100_9581.jpg

So what it looks like, is that they've added a cross member up right ahead of the back bumper, and connected down diagonally to the lowest point where the rear leaf shackles hook on. The idea being that it would prevent the frame rails from moving relative to each other in a vertical direction -- keep them parallel.

From the pictures, it looks like the x-runner frame has an extra bracket welded on there to bolt the brace, but the 4x4's at least have a big hole at the bottom there where we could drop a bolt through.

My main concern is regarding spare tire clearance.

I'm going to have the leaf springs off in the next few days since one of mine broke (replacing with EMU springs with 3rd down removed), so I'm thinking of dropping bolts into those holes while I have clearance.

 

Defined Engineering has one on their website. No clue about spare tire clearance. http://www.definedengineering.com/products.html

 

Would be nice if a 265 or 285 would fit.

 

Do you mean axle hop when trying to accelerate in a straight line? The X-brace on the X-Runner won't help with that. The X-brace just limits side-to-side motion of the rear shackle mount when cornering hard.

 

It actually hops because the frame moves -- it isn't just the axle. If it was just the axle, then the shock absorber would be able to dampen it.

 

I'm not seeing anything like it on that link.
Further, cost of shipping something like this would exceed its value. It would cost about $10 to buy the steel, and maybe another $10 for fasteners.

 

Nope. It hops because leaf springs are not able to resist axle wrap. The opposing-shocks arrangement on 2nd/3rd gens are better at this, but can only do so much. To get rid of it, you'd need a traction bar / torque arm. Budbuilt and ATO make them.

 

Go take a video of what the frame is doing when its bouncing. Given your point of view, you will clearly be shocked. No pun intended.

 

I have traction bars. Due to axle wrap. 4x4 and PreRunner leaf springs, especially before the OEM leaf upgrade, were/are a very soft spring rate. XR springs are much stiffer. Reduced the axle wrap/hop nearly to nothing.

Like the others said, the x-brace is specifically for frame rigidity. To improve handling by reducing frame flex. Coming from the realm of the XR performance world, they still had the "hop" you describe. They still needed to add traction bars to alleviate the wrap.

Here is a video of my truck's axle wrap, in the past.

https://youtu.be/t5uiH6_VISI

 

I can't really see anything from that video.
In any case, I'm sure that everything done to stiffen it up will help.

 

What crawled up your ass?

 

So you cannot see the 3rd member nor driveshaft moving up and down at great length, on/off of torque? Intriguing.

 

There's no context, nor does that, in itself, indicate that there is something going wrong. I'm not clear on why you posted that video, since it doesn't appear to have any relation to this topic.

 

Nice, you have a video of after the upgrade?

 

You wanted hop. The wrapping in the video is what induces the hop. Torque causes the hop. Uneven terrain amplifies the hop from the axle through the suspension, into the frame and bed. Where it is what you see. Then end result. Not the root of the reason.

Stiffeneing the frame doesn't correct the source. It will just isolate it more.

 

It's the other way around. The frame is moving b/c the axle is hopping up and down. You can stiffen the frame all you want, that won't stop the wheel from hopping.

 

You can't stop the source without replacing the back suspension altogether, so all you can do is manage it.
Anyhow, this is completely off topic and really doesn't address my question.

 

Assuming they had slave labor do all the designing, bending, assembling, welding, painting and such....

Oh, and assuming they got all those tools for free.

 

Unfortunately no. Just track videos.

 

That thing between your ears... USE IT.

Go to a metal recycler, find some nice pieces of metal, buy it, MAKE THE PART (its not hard), install it.
WHAT DID IT COST YOU?
Right, about $20.

Also, who is "THEY"?