Tow bar is supposed to be done tomorrow. Today, I reinstalled all my skidplates (took them off for the mechanic) and re-torqued everything before I put them on. I also solved this little problem:
When I installed the Calmini transfer case skid, I noticed the "Z" clamping bracket tightened all the way down, did not clamp the crossmember. So it was floating:
In the two weeks it was on there, every once in awhile during a hard shift between 1 and 2, or taking off in first, I would hear a clunk, this was assumed to be the problem. My dad's idea was to slip a piece of large rubber hose over the crossmember, and I put it off until I was reinstalling it today. I had the right diameter hose sitting in my garage, cut off a few inches of it, and this is how it worked:
slit it down the middle...then slid over the crossmember...
and with the bracket tightened all the way, the skid does not "float" anymore, and I don't hear that clunk. Plus it just seems more secure that way
And here's all of them installed:
I'm looking at all sorts of ideas people have had on strut tower braces. I saw a lot of talk about ideas when I used the search tool, but no pictures or actual product. I like bentparts, I sent him a PM. But I'm also wondering if it would be a complete waste of time for me. Ipm not doing anything extreme, it's a basic trail vehicle, and it will be used occasionally for some mild rock stuff. Nothing major, but just how much do the strut towers move? Enough to worry me?