Quote:
Originally Posted by euromodder
I beg to differ about why it's cracking ...
Looks like you mounted it too solidly with 2 bolts (tightly fitting in the holes ?) at either end, taking the ability to flex out of it.
The car flexes, but the support is so solidly mounted that it can't flex with the frame to the same degree.
So the support beam flexes , then cracks, where it can - beyond and outboard of the washers.
Give the new supports a chance to flex with the frame.
One bolt either end, or bigger holes (and possibly bigger washer) on one end and not tightening it too hard (using locking nuts or threadlock to keep the nut on) so one end can slide a bit.
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Thanks fer yer insight and opinion...
I inspected the rear crossbeam (same setup) and there are no cracks on that piece. Wouldn't the rear have the same cracks as the frame flexes there, too? I know the low side skirts contact speed bumps as I'm driving over them as well as the oscillations of the road impacting the supports. Those impacts may have contributed to the cracking.
There's no way I can have the belly pan crossbeams have any sort of play with the side skirts and belly pans hanging off of it. The T-100's boxed frame has boxed crossbeams near the same point and they are welded in place. Those haven't cracked over the 375,000 miles on the T-100.
I will have to go with a thicker support...maybe extend the 2x4 inserts to include the fastener points and about 6" inwards from that point. I will have to include a thick steel plate on the bottom where the washers were in order to distribute the forces across that plate. I guess I could even go with 2x4 wood beams all the way across along with the metal stud as an outer protective shield. I will have to git more steel studs along with the new 2x4 studs. More brainstorming must commence before I move forward on this...