Strengthening Crossmember???

[BigDave!!!]

not quite sure if this thread belongs in the susp. section but anyway. i was wondering if there was any way to strengthen your front crossmember that connects to your lower control arms so this does not happen: bent crossmember
i was wondering if it would be possible to plate the crossmember so it does not bent but im not sure that would work. i push my suspension and actually the whole car to its limits racing around in the desert and have heard of a few people that have bent their crossmembers doint this. any ideas on if this is possible???

 

[clarkkent]

i think dixonbrosracing does a crossmember for the ranger, i couldnt see why it wouldnt fit. im gonna call them pretty soon about it, i kno this is a misprint, but on their site it said they had one for fifty bucks.

 

[BigDave!!!]

if they really did have one for fifty bucks i would be all over that! thanks for the info ill give em a call too.

 

[nissanboy]

best thing to do is take it to a fab shop near your house and have them cut the bottom out of it and weld a 3/16" wall piece of box tube in place of the flimsy bottom.

The you will break rocks before they bend your x-member.

 

[clarkkent]

hey i just ran out and thought i'd show you how bad mine is.. i burped a hill and didnt see this boulder, and landed on it..

 

[BigDave!!!]

wow you really did bent that thing, i just gave dixon bros an e mail about the x member and the price so ill post up wen i have more info

 

[BigDave!!!]

just got an e mail back from the dixon bros and this is what they said when i questioned the price of the x member

"Dave, $50 is what we are shooting for. It will tie the rear lower
a-arm pivots together with the factory bolts. Pretty simple, but very
effective. Rules do not allow us to add crossmembers to our race truck,
and the pivots are 3/4 inch bent inward! We should have pictures posted
soon... Thanks.

Aaron"

 

[410Fortune]

of course you can strengthen it, box it, plate it, add braces and support.
protect it would work too