97 4Runner Crawler

Can you grab me this dimension on both ends? I need to know where those holes are positioned in the part length-wise. I'm assuming that they're centered width-wise.

Also, do you have a 3d printer by chance? I could send you the files to print and do a fit check on while you have things apart.



Also looking for this height. Although given yours is bent, it's probably not accurate to what it should be. A measurement off of the new OEM clamp would prob be better for that one.

 

Will do tonight.

No 3d printer unfortunately.

 

Edit - everything is out of order, I’ll edit later on the computer, you can probably figure out most of it.

As I think about this more, it could be interesting to just do away with the bushing all together and make that billet aluminum mount interface straight with the rack. Would be easy to add some beef to it by leaving all the dimensions the same other than brining in the ID but you would have to do some funny business to get it in place over the fitting. Maybe you could cut a slash in it and get enough flex to go around the high pressure fitting on that side and just bolt it back together?




this measurement (img_8554) could be a bit off from galling on aluminum from threads



Rack OD



this measurement seems better to me, worst case if this is tight it just clamps to frame harder


If you make this all aluminum and ditch bushing, you could fully enclose the rack and maybe just slash it here to fit over the high pressure hose and bolt back together?

Or at the center of where the aluminum is thinnest between rack and frame you could just take .5” out for a gap, it would still be hard to flex over the ridges at the end of the rack for retaining the boot but you can also sand those down.

 

I am not sure if it was mentioned but what does the rack mounting surface look like? Still flat?

 

Thanks for the pics.
If I was to design a solid mounting bracket eliminating the use of brackets, I would do it with a 2 piece design so you didn't have to deal with hydraulic fittings or any of that. Not a bad idea, although I would worry about making things too rigid and then translating forces into the housing of the rack at that spot.
Lately I have been pondering the idea of making replacement bushings out of delrin or a similar material. My initial thought was to make the two driver side bushings and then leave the D-bushing poly.

 

Found an extra clamp I had laying around. Here's what I got:

 

Sweet that's helpful thanks. Should be close to getting a version I can print and do a fit check on

 

Wow. Thats a build. Nicely done

 

I have a brand new billet one if you need any measurements from it.

 

Might take you up on that depending on how the 3d printed one made fits up.

 

The 3D printed clamp is really tight around the bushings. I can't get it over the bushing without the two ends spreading apart. Not sure how much of a tight fit the metal one is over the TC bushings, I've heard that people have had to use a hammer to get it on....

 

My stock clamp slipped right over a TC bushing. If you mean people had to hammer the clamp onto the stud to make it fit, I think people hammering the clamp just didn’t assess which was causing interference; the clamp, the mounting stud being bent if they have one, or the surface of the mounting stud / threaded bolt holes.

 

Well that's good to hear you didn't have any fitment issues. my model needs some tweaking.

 

Does your model have sharp corners on the inside where it interfaces with the bushing? Don't know if TC bushing has a fillet or not but that could help fitment if you match that interface. My 333 is tight but I don't need a hammer with a rubber bushing, just get the bolts started and they pull it all the way on.

As long as it will bolt up, I think some extra tension would be nice.

 

it does have sharp corner currently. Good call, I'll print another and see if that makes a difference. the TC bushing does have a slight radius on the corners there. Currently there is about a .02" interference fit between my measured bushing height and the inner clamp height.


Also did discover my clamp is bent as well, albeit not as much as yours.

 

Do any of you guys have a rack slide yet? IMO, it't the only way to prevent bending the D-mount. I just learned to live with it and beat it back in place every time the skids where off. I also threw those POS poly bushings in the trash and went back to rubber for the D-mount. Rubber will deform where poly just split right down the middle on me. lol

 

A couple guys on here @Jon64l and @El Taco Diablo both have a slider and may able to be chime in. I'd like to make one when I have time. @betterbuckleup should have no problem making one...

 

Slider was worth it for me. I suppose a downside is no boots over the actual rack, but it hasn't leaked or got sloppy yet. I went through 2 racks without slider, 3rd one is doing well. Steering wheel shake is long gone. The price is probably the worst part about it. You'll need clevis off the rack and heim tie rods (more cost). Throw a little Triflow on it every so often. Probably not a good choice for a lot of mud. I can't imagine going back. Maybe I would consider a tundra rack if someone made a conversion for our year rigs, or a Howe ram.

 

you do a diy or tt Motorsport one?

did it change steering feel for good or bad? Other than that the main benefit I see is it keeps racks from tearing up too soon?

I haven’t trashed a rack yet even with no boots and lots of mud, but it did kill my pump I think. Maybe just the screen in it is clogged. But if the rack had a small leak I wouldn’t notice

@theesotericone you know how old this rack is?

 

I got the TT one. You will have to finish it to fit your specific vehicle.

Steering was a little tight for a day or two. The bushings wear in. Keep it lubed.

My Steering wheel shook so bad. I just kinda thought it was normal and "were off roading" kind of mentality. I actually broke the mount under the dash. Az is harsh. Once on the 3rd rack I had to try something different. So glad I did.

I killed a pump on a different truck, so added a cooler to both my off roaders and had no issues since.