Trimming, Grinding or Cutting the Pinch Weld...

So I need a little help. If you have trimmed, ground down or cut the pinch weld to clear the front tires, what did you do and how did you do it? How far can you go before the weld separates?

I've received a bunch of BAD ADVICE regarding grinding calipers in the past, on another forum, from well intentioned posters who didn't know what they were talking about, (that bad advice cost me a new caliper, shipping, brake fluid and 1 week w/o the truck) so please only comment if you personally have cut your pinch weld or have paid someone to do it. I'd hate to do something wrong AGAIN...

 

Are you talking about the cab mount? I thought the pinchweld was a 1st Gen thing.

 

Pinch weld is on the 2nd Gen too. Its under one of the plastic pieces in the wheel well just "outside" of the Cab Mount.
I had mine cut going up from the bottom about 6 inches. The two do separate almost immediately and I had it welded back together right where it was cut. Even the parts that weren't "cut," I had welded over to keep some strength.
Good luck.

 

Darnit, I was afraid it would separate just by looking at it. I wish I knew someone who could weld w/o charging multiple hundreds of dollars...
Has anyone used a big hammer to bend it over? I've got to get that darn thing out of the way.

 

Well I'm planning to just bend it over and bang it back with a hammer.

I'll just use sealer if it opens any gaps. rust proof it and be done with it.

You won't see it because it is under the carpet. Just take your time, and try to do a nice job of it.

 

front tires, right behind the fender liner is the pinch weld. If you run wide enough tires/rims on full turns you will rub on them. Can't miss it.

 

Oh I know that, I just want to see the clean, the bad and the ugly!

 

Mine is hammered flat and it is holding the wheel well in place as well. It worked out perfect to where you would not even know by looking at it. Definately the best way to get it out of the way is to hammer it down flat.

 

So hammering sounds like what I'll do. To make sure I do things correctly, I hammer the piece toward the center of the truck on each side, right? Did anyone use anything besides a hammer? That piece seems pretty flippin' strong.

 

it is strong, you may need to use a small mallet. Just bend it over don't beat it in.

 

Use a big hammer.

Seriusley, I would think, take your time bend it slowly and over a large are. You do not need to bend it all at one.

 

SnoBoarder has some pics in his build:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/builds/37641-snoboarders-rig.html

 

this mod is necessary to clear 33" tires when the wheel is at full stuff and the steering is at full lock.
it's an easy enough mod that can be done on the trail haha, just ask dtrujillo63!



here's what mine looks like..i used an air hammer and a BFH..


easy to do, start from either end (top or bottom) and work your way to the other side using a BFH. once you get the pinchweld to fold over it's easy, the bottom portion of the pinchweld is more beefier then the top so it will take a bit more effort.

 

Am I the only one who didn't have to do this? Only thing I rub is the cab mount and RARELY.

 

I'm probably going to do this on Tuesday or Thursday after work. If I use a "big flippin' hammer" do I just PUSH really hard and not swing the hammer? If so, I may go buy a sledge hammer from Home Depot or a big iron wedge.

I'm sorry if these questions seem rather stupid but I really don't want to screw this up like I did when I grinded the brake fluid right out of my caliper... my wallet still hurts from that one. It also looks like some of you removed the plastic wheel liner. Did you cut it out or remove it all together?

Thanks for the tips!