Neil's rock removal...

nlife · **Joined:** Thu Aug 16, 2007 11:43 pm **Posts:** 226

I found a nice big rock last night on a seemingly innocent trail. It was hidden in some grass in the middle of the trail and because the center of the trail was higher, I NAILED it! I was driving approximately 15-20 Km/h, up the dirt road (literally dirt with one exception), when I found the rock. So now what?

Obviously I have to replace it, but where can I get one? Auto wreckers here in town don't have anything as new as my 03 libby. Anybody have an idea of how much of a PITA and $$ this is going to be to replace?

N

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Tue Oct 09, 2007 3:47 pm

nlife wrote:

I found a nice big rock last night on a seemingly innocent trail. It was hidden in some grass in the middle of the trail and because the center of the trail was higher, I NAILED it! I was driving approximately 15-20 Km/h, up the dirt road (literally dirt with one exception), when I found the rock. So now what?

Obviously I have to replace it, but where can I get one? Auto wreckers here in town don't have anything as new as my 03 libby. Anybody have an idea of how much of a PITA and $$ this is going to be to replace?

N

OUCH

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Time for some skids,that wouldn't have happened if you had skids.Well not sure how much a new cradle costs but labor is going to be high since pretty much the entire front suspension needs to come off and the cradle holds the front diff and rack&pinion.Oh and the motor will have to be supported also since the motor mounts are also on the cradle.Not a fun job.If you can wait a few weeks there will be some cradles for sale in CO area :wink:

(I wouldn't recomend it though,the cradle is a very important part).

Sport · **Posted:** Tue Oct 09, 2007 3:58 pm

tjkj2002 wrote:

nlife wrote:

I found a nice big rock last night on a seemingly innocent trail. It was hidden in some grass in the middle of the trail and because the center of the trail was higher, I NAILED it! I was driving approximately 15-20 Km/h, up the dirt road (literally dirt with one exception), when I found the rock. So now what?

Obviously I have to replace it, but where can I get one? Auto wreckers here in town don't have anything as new as my 03 libby. Anybody have an idea of how much of a PITA and $$ this is going to be to replace?

N

OUCH

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Time for some skids,that wouldn't have happened if you had skids.Well not sure how much a new cradle costs but labor is going to be high since pretty much the entire front suspension needs to come off and the cradle holds the front diff and rack&pinion.Oh and the motor will have to be supported also since the motor mounts are also on the cradle.Not a fun job.If you can wait a few weeks there will be some cradles for sale in CO area :wink:

(I wouldn't recomend it though,the cradle is a very important part).

Is the engine completely supported by the cradle, are there any other motor mounts located on the frame?

Not trying to hijack just want to ask ??s and learn a litte.

nlife · **Joined:** Thu Aug 16, 2007 11:43 pm **Posts:** 226

Yea, it really hurt. I was wearing my seat belt so I just got jolted around. My buddy wasn't and he hit the roof as the rock shot us straight up. I agree on the skids. I would love to get some. I can't stand how low that part sits.

Seeing as how so much has to be removed/supported while replacing the cradle, do you figure it would be worthwhile to throw a lift in it at the same time? I know it's going to be more $$, but I hoping for a silver lining here, ya follow?

N

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Tue Oct 09, 2007 4:04 pm

Quote:

Is the engine completely supported by the cradle, are there any other motor mounts located on the frame?

Not trying to hijack just want to ask ??s and learn a litte.

Yes(well 75% of it is),the motor mounts are bolted to the cradle.The tranny/t-case crossmember supports alittle of the engine weight due to the tranny being bolted to the rear of the engine.Most unibody vehicles(all FWD cars,most SUV's,there exceptions) have a cradle that supports the engine,most FWD cars it also supports the tranny,you basically drop the engine/tranny from under the vehicle instead of pulling up/out of the engine bay.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Tue Oct 09, 2007 4:08 pm

nlife wrote:

Yea, it really hurt. I was wearing my seat belt so I just got jolted around. My buddy wasn't and he hit the roof as the rock shot us straight up. I agree on the skids. I would love to get some. I can't stand how low that part sits.

Seeing as how so much has to be removed/supported while replacing the cradle, do you figure it would be worthwhile to throw a lift in it at the same time? I know it's going to be more $$, but I hoping for a silver lining here, ya follow?

N

Can't seem to find a price for the cradle on the web but the part # is 52059462AA,I'm guessing about $350-$500 for it and looking at 15-20 hours of labor(my best guess,a dealer and most independant shops will go by the Mitchell labor guide and get every min out of you for labor).You can do a lift at the same time since you will have to rip the whole front suspension off anyway and save some time in labor for a install(the rear is to easy,about 30 min).

Sport · **Posted:** Tue Oct 09, 2007 4:09 pm

nlife wrote:

Yea, it really hurt. I was wearing my seat belt so I just got jolted around. My buddy wasn't and he hit the roof as the rock shot us straight up. I agree on the skids. I would love to get some. I can't stand how low that part sits.

Seeing as how so much has to be removed/supported while replacing the cradle, do you figure it would be worthwhile to throw a lift in it at the same time? I know it's going to be more $$, but I hoping for a silver lining here, ya follow?

N

Same thing happened to me in my old tacoma, I was playing in the snow and ran into a boulder. I ended up planed on top of it, good thing I had an engine skid though. I sat in the truck put it in reverse while my friend rocked it off and we drove away no problems.

Thanks tjkj

nlife · **Joined:** Thu Aug 16, 2007 11:43 pm **Posts:** 226

I think I'll go with a lift at the same time then. I see that there are a bunch out there, and there is a 6" kit out now. I don't plan on going that high. There also seem to be a few 2.5" lifts out there that seem to be more common and a little more of what I'm looking for.

This is my daily driver, well at least it was and will be after it gets fixed. I'm going to do a search around here for options, but what do you recommend?

N

jsc7002 · **Posted:** Tue Oct 09, 2007 4:20 pm

same thing cept in my KJ and my head hit my steering wheel really hard and my friends head hit my dash! but like sport i have the front engine skid, i did but 2 huge dents in it and broke off a bolt!

nlife · **Joined:** Thu Aug 16, 2007 11:43 pm **Posts:** 226

jsc7002 wrote:

same thing cept in my KJ and my head hit my steering wheel really hard and my friends head hit my dash! but like sport i have the front engine skid, i did but 2 huge dents in it and broke off a bolt!

I came so close to hitting the steering wheel. I would have had I not been wearing my seat belt. Skids are gonna be lined up here pretty darn quick. I'm gonna have to get the cradle fixed and want to put the lift in at the same time. After that, well, I want a bumper and a winch!

N

Jeger · **Posted:** Tue Oct 09, 2007 4:36 pm

Since you are taking it all apart anyhow........ SFA? :twisted:

nlife · **Joined:** Thu Aug 16, 2007 11:43 pm **Posts:** 226

Jeger wrote:

Since you are taking it all apart anyhow........ SFA? :twisted:

You have no idea how much I would love to do that... but hey, thanks for pouring that extra little bit of salt in the wound :evil:

N

Gris · **Posted:** Wed Oct 10, 2007 9:56 am

I thought the front skid was a standard?

Video Guy · **Posted:** Wed Oct 10, 2007 10:35 am

Gris wrote:

I thought the front skid was a standard?

Nope. I have an '03 Sport like his, and that year skid plates were sold either as a skid plate package (no tranny skid available that year) or as part of the Offroad Group, which I think also included different tires and maybe(?) rock rails.

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Wed Oct 10, 2007 10:51 am

Have you thought about welding it ... then you could even take some flat stock and "box" it. That might work for ya. As long as the alignment stays true it will probably work. Then add the engine skid and your lift.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Wed Oct 10, 2007 11:40 am

^^, thats what I was thinking. If nothing else is harmed, just box it.

jsc7002 · **Posted:** Wed Oct 10, 2007 12:06 pm

ya it would prolly work, but man i think i'd rather replace it i wouldnt think that would be the best way to go

nlife · **Joined:** Thu Aug 16, 2007 11:43 pm **Posts:** 226

Boxing it is another option, but I would feel better with it replaced. I haven't priced them out just yet, but I wouldn't imagine that they are cheap.

N

Jeger · **Posted:** Wed Oct 10, 2007 1:00 pm

Besides it would be a good opportunity to install that 2" cradle drop from jeepinbyal that has been mentioned. Doing that much work deserves an upgrade right?

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Wed Oct 10, 2007 1:13 pm

To replace the cradle it will run around $500.00+ w/ labor and parts...at least. Actually I think the cradle alone is around $300 so it would probably be more. Welding and then boxing the entire bottom weld would make it very strong. It would just have to be done with tight tolerances since the cradle is also the suspension attachment point for the Lower Control Arms.

Neil's rock removal...

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